-
For centuries, navigators of the worlds oceanshave been familiar
with an effect of Earths magnetic field: Itimparts a directional
preference to the needle of a compass. Al-though in some settings
magnetic orientation remains impor-tant, the modern science of
geomagnetism has emerged fromits romantic nautical origins and
developed into a subject ofgreat depth and diversity. The
geomagnetic field is used to ex-plore the dynamics of Earths
interior and its surroundingspace environment, and geomagnetic data
are used for geo-physical mapping, mineral exploration, risk
mitigation, andother practical applications. A global distribution
of ground-based magnetic observatories supports those pursuits by
pro-viding accurate records of the magnetic-field direction and
in-tensity at fixed locations and over long periods of time.
Magnetic observatories were first established in the early19th
century in response to the influence of Alexander vonHumboldt and
Carl Friedrich Gauss. Since then, magneticmeasurement has advanced
significantly, progressing fromsimple visual readings of magnetic
survey instruments to in-clude automatic photographic measurement
and modernelectronic acquisition. To satisfy the needs of the
scientificcommunity, observatories are being upgraded to collect
datathat meet ever more stringent standards, to achieve
higheracquisition frequencies, and to disseminate data in real
time.
To appreciate why data from magnetic observatories canbe used
for so many purposes, one needs only to recall thatthe geomagnetic
field is a continuum, connecting the differ-ent parts of Earth to
each other and to nearby space. Beneathour feet and above our
heads, electric currents generate mag-netic fields that contribute
to the totality of the geomagneticfield measured at an observatory
on Earths surface. Themany physical processes that operate in each
geophysical do-main give rise to a complicated field that exhibits
a wide va-riety of time-dependent behavior.1 In this article I
review thestatus of the global community of magnetic
observatories,show how Earth and space can be monitored for
purposes ofscientific understanding and practical application, and
high-light the role played by magnetic observatories in the
historyof geomagnetism research.
Measurement and dataTo support a wide range of geophysical
studies, magnetic ob-servatories such as that shown in figure 1
need to produceaccurate measurements of the geomagnetic field over
a widerange of time scales. The longest time scale is defined by
thelifetime of the observatory. Naturally, that depends on
manypractical factors, including long-term funding and
staffing.
Some observatories operate for only a few years, but others,such
as the Sodankyl Geophysical Observatory in Finlandand the Apia
Observatory in Samoa, have operated continu-ously for well over a
century. The shortest time scale of rele-vance is the time between
sequential measurements. Olderanalog photographic systems typically
produce data with aone-hour cadence. Modern digital systems provide
data at much higher acquisition rates. These days,
one-minute-average data is a standard observatory product, but
one-second-average data production is becoming more common.As an
example, the Kakioka Magnetic Observatory in Japanhas produced
one-second data continuously since 1983arecord of magnetic-field
variation over time scales spanningalmost nine orders of
magnitude.
To reliably produce a long-period geomagnetic time se-ries, an
observatory must operate under carefully controlledconditions.2
Typically, the site of an observatory is largeenough to isolate the
measurements from most sources of an-thropogenic magnetic
interference, and many observatoriesare in relatively remote
locations. Buildings on the site pro-vide stable operating
conditions for the sensors, calibrationsystems, and associated
instrument and data-acquisitionelectronics.
A modern observatory has a fluxgate magnetometer,which gives
vectorial data conventionally expressed in termsof either the
Cartesian components (X [north], Y [east], andZ [down]) or the
horizontalpolar components (horizontalintensity H = [X2 + Y2]1/2,
declination D = arctan[Y/X], andZ [down]). Note that declination is
the direction in which acompass needle points. More formally, it is
the angle of thedirection of the magnetic fields horizontal
component. Awell-run observatory will produce fluxgate data that
showlittle drift in accuracyusually less than 20 nanotesla
annu-ally. For many real-time nonresearch applications, that
stan-dard of accuracy is sufficient.
But more stringent ionospheric and magnetospheric re-search
projects, as well as long-term mapping of the globalmagnetic field,
require more accurate data. For that reason a modern magnetic
observatory has a proton precessionmagnetometer that measures the
total absolute field intensityF = (X2 + Y2 + Z2)1/2. An observatory
also has a pier-mountedtheodolite, a familiar surveying instrument,
but one having asmall fluxgate fixed to its telescope. About once a
week, an ob-server visits the site and makes a series of
measurements usingthe theodolite to obtain D and the inclination I
= arctan(Z/H).Those absolute magnetic-direction data are then used
to cali-brate the fluxgate data, so as to compensate for long-term
drift
2008 American Institute of Physics, S-0031-9228-0802-010-3
February 2008 Physics Today 31
Magnetic monitoringof Earth and spaceJeffrey J. Love
With data provided by magnetic observatories, geophysicists can
gaininsights into our planets interior and nearby space environment
withouteven leaving the ground.
Jeffrey Love ([email protected]) is the US Geological Survey
adviser for geomagnetic research and a member of the Intermagnet
executive council.
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in the fluxgate magnetometer. Production of definitive
obser-vatory data involve processing. The resulting data have an
ab-solute accuracy of better than 5 nT, which permits
meaningfulanalysis of magnetic variation that can occur over time
scalesranging from the acquisition cadence out to the
observatoryslifetime.
Fluxgate magnetometers and proton precession magne-tometers are
the two types most commonly used in magneticobservatories. The
Quick Study by Uli Auster on page 76 de-scribes how they work and
includes a photo of a theodolitewith fluxgate.
A global networkApproximately 170 magnetic observatories
oper-ate worldwide. Most are supported by nationalgovernments, some
by universities, and a few byprivate companies. During the
International Geo-physical Year in 195758, many new observa-tories
were established as part of a coordinatedeffort to enhance the
global collection of geo-physical data, and many existing
observatorieswere improved (see the article by Fae L.
Korsmo,PHYSICS TODAY, July 2007, page 38). Today about120
observatories produce and routinely reportdigital data with an
acquisition cadence ofone minute or better; figure 2 shows where
theyare located around the globe. The remaining 50or so
observatories use older, analog systems orreport their data only
years after acquisition.Note that the geographic distribution of
observa-tories is far from uniform, with a general sparsityin, for
example, the Southern Hemisphere and inthe central Pacific. To
promote observatory oper-ation according to consistent standards
and to fa-cilitate the prompt dissemination of digital data,the
international observatory network organiza-tion Intermagnet
(http://www.intermagnet.org)was formed in 1987. As of January 2008,
42 coun-tries and 108 observatories participate in and fol-low the
modern standards set by Intermagnet.
Ground-based fluxgate networks, some-times called variometer
networks, and satellite-based magnetometers fill niches that are
comple-mentary to that filled by the observatories. Mostfluxgate
networks are maintained by universitiesand various national
governmental programs;they typically operate for a few years for
space-physics research. Because of their more special-
ized nature, the networks do not need the laborious stan-dards
adopted by full-fledged magnetic observatories.Satellite
magnetometers measure the part of Earths magneticfield that is in
space; over the course of many orbits, they canprovide good global
coverage, albeit from only a relativelysmall number of locations at
any particular time.
In the future almost all users of observatory data will expect
greater accuracy, and many will require real-time
magnetic-observatory data streams and easier accessto data from all
parts of the globe. Demand for higher-frequency data acquisition
will increase, especially from
space physicists. To meet those needs, the inter-national
programs that support magnetic obser-vatories will have to be even
better integratedthan they are today. Older observatories willneed
to be modernized and all parts of observa-tory operations made more
automatic.
Secular variation and Earths coreHow do geophysicists interpret
the abundance ofmagnetic-observatory data? To answer that
ques-tion, let us take a tour of magnetic signals. The tourbegins
deep inside Earth, in the iron core where themajority of the
geomagnetic field originates. Fromthere, we trace the magnetic
field up to the surface,where the observatories are located. Next,
we con-tinue onward and upward through the ionosphereto the
magnetosphere. The physics encompassed inthe tour is classical and
includes electricity and mag-netism, fluid mechanics, and plasma
dynamics.
Figure 2. Worldwide distribution, as of 2006, of
magneticobservatories that report one-minute-average digital
data.
Figure 1. The observation tower building of the magnetic
obser-vatory in Alibag, India, south of Mumbai. Here, careful
measure-ments of the magnetic field are made in order to calibrate
datacollected by digital systems. The online version of this
article in-cludes links to photographs of other observatories.
32 February 2008 Physics Today www.physicstoday.org
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Earths core lies some 2900 km below the surface. In theouter
part of the core, a combination of thermal and chemi-cal buoyancy
sustains convective fluid motion and estab-lishes what is
essentially a naturally occurring electrical gen-erator. As the
electrically conducting core fluid flows throughthe geomagnetic
field, motional induction generates electriccurrents. Those
currents, in turn, generate their own mag-netic fields. If it is
sufficiently complicatedlacking simplesymmetrythe magnetic field
that partakes in the motionalinduction is the same field that is
sustained by the inducedelectric currents. The process is efficient
enough to overcomethe effects of ohmic dissipation, and so Earths
core is a self-sustaining dynamo.3 The mathematics of the geodynamo
issometimes described as being a bit like that of oceanographyand
meteorology, but with the additional complication pre-sented by the
magnetic field itself. Scientists still dont knowor understand many
things about dynamo theory; not sur-prisingly, it is the subject of
ongoing research (see the articleby Raymond Jeanloz and Barbara
Romanowicz, PHYSICSTODAY, August 1997, page 22).
Part of the magnetic field generated in the core extendsoutward,
passes through the weakly electrically conductingmantle, and
reaches the surface. The field at Earths surfacetypically has an
intensity of 30 00060 000 nT and is ap-proximately dipolar, with an
axis tilted by about 10 with re-spect to Earths rotational axis.
But the magnetic field alsohas important ingredients that are
nondipolar. One way toappreciate that is to make a map of
declination. The compassneedle aligns itself with the horizontal
direction of the localmagnetic field. As figure 3a shows, a compass
needle almostnever points due north. Indeed, because of the
nondipolarfield, declination is a complicated function of latitude
andlongitude. As a result of core convection, the magnetic
fieldalso exhibits secular variation over time scales of decades
to
millions of years. And so, at a given location, the
directionthat a compass points changes over time. The two maps
ofdeclination in figure 3a show the progression of geomag-netic
secular variation over the past century.4 Indeed, be-cause the
field changes in time, maps of it are updated everyfive years or
so.
Figure 3b shows year-to-year differences in declinationmeasured
during the 20th century from five different obser-vatories. The
secular variation not only is different in differ-ent locations but
also occasionally accelerates. An interestingfeature of the data is
the apparent presence around 1970 of adiscontinuous change, or
jerk, in the rate of secular variation.Jerks are clearly seen in
the European and Australian data.On the other hand, a jerk isnt
obvious in the Japanese data.And although the Alaskan data show a
jerk, it is of the op-posite sign of that for Europe and
Australia.
Clearly, a global description of the secular variation
iscomplicated. Still, geophysicists have made progress in re-lating
jerks and secular variation to decade-scale changes inEarths
rotational rate that arise from exchanges of angularmomentum
between the core and mantle. With certain as-sumptions, core
angular momentum can be deduced fromgeomagnetic secular variation
models. Then, assuming thatEarths total angular momentum is
conserved, one can esti-mate the changes that should have occurred
in the mantle an-gular momentum over the past century or so.
Predicted vari-ations in the length of a day are close to those
actuallyobserved, and that gives researchers some confidence
thattheir theories are reasonable.
Crust, ocean, and mantleTime-dependent magnetic-field variations
sustained by cur-rents in the ionosphere and magnetosphere induce
electriccurrents in the crust, ocean, and mantle.5 Those currents,
in
www.physicstoday.org February 2008 Physics Today 33
1900
2000
YEAR
1900 20001980196019401920
CH
AN
GE
IND
EC
LIN
AT
ION
(arc
min
ute
s/y
ear)
30
20
10
0
0
0
0 0
0
0
10
5+10
+10
20
30
10
10
10
10
ESKScotland
15 /yr+
VLJ/CLFFrance+ 10 /yr
WAT/GNAAustralia+ 5 /yr
SITAlaska
KAKJapan 25 /yr
a b
Figure 3. Magnetic declination changes over time. (a) Contour
maps of declination D for the years 1900 and 2000 show significant
differences over the century. Each contour line represents 5; red
is declination to the east and blue is to the west. (b) Data from
five observatories show the yearly rate of change in declination.
Note, in particular, the abrupt changes, or jerks,in the rate of
secular variation, around 1970. For clarity of presentation, the
data have been separated by the ordinate valueslisted on the
right.
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turn, generate internal magnetic fields. The skin depth towhich
the induced currents diffusively penetrate is a func-tion of Earths
subsurface electrical conductivity and the fre-quency of the
overhead magnetic-field variations. So, for ex-ample, magnetic
variations with periods ranging from asecond to tens of minutes
penetrate into the crust some20100 km. An observatory, of course,
measures the totalmagnetic field, a superposition of the external,
inducing fieldand the internal, induced field. Mathematical
separation ofthe two requires a large number of simultaneous
measure-ments, densely distributed across Earths surface; it is a
tasknot ideally suited to the relatively sparse distribution of
mag-netic observatories. For that reason, detailed regional
studiesof Earths conductivity structure often involve the
deploy-ment of temporary arrays of sensors to measure both
themagnetic field at Earths surface and the induced electric
fieldin the crust.
Qualitative insight into geomagnetic induction can beobtained
through direct inspection of observatory data. Fig-ure 4 shows
magnetograms from four European observato-ries that recorded a
large magnetic storm. Each observatoryshows a similar variation in
H. Most of that is the magneticsignature of a large-scale, overhead
ionospheric and magne-tospheric current system sustained during the
storm.
In contrast, the magnetogram traces in Z vary signifi-cantly
from site to site, due to localized subsurface differ-ences in
electrical conductivity in the vicinity of each obser-vatory. Note,
for example, the Z traces for the two Spanishobservatories: San
Pablo Toledo (SPT), in the center of Spain,and Ebro (EBR), on the
coast. Much of the variation in Z re-flected in the Ebro
magnetogram comes from electric currentsinduced in the
Mediterranean Sea. Since ocean water is agood electrical conductor
compared with dry rock and hy-drated sediments, the nearby coastal
inlets and sea-depthvariations establish a local conductivity
heterogeneity; the re-sult is the complicated electromagnetic
response seen in thedata. On the other hand, differences in Z
variation betweenthe Italian and Romanian observatories are related
to localgeology. Both areas are tectonically complicated, but the
for-mation of the Carpathian Mountains created a zone of activerock
metamorphism and unusually high electrical conduc-tivity that is
manifested in the complexity of the lowest trace.
Quiet time variation and the ionosphereAbove Earths surface the
magnetic field threads its waythrough the ionosphere, the
electrically conducting part ofthe upper atmosphere where solar
radiation maintains par-tial ionization.6,7 The degree of
ionization is a function of al-titude, latitude, time of day,
season, and solar-cycle phase. Ataltitudes of 90300 km or so, winds
driven by daynight tem-perature differences and tides driven by the
gravity of theMoon and Sun sustain motional induction. During
quiettimes, when the magnetic field is relatively undisturbed
bysolar activity, the electric currents of the ionospheric
dynamogive a distinct diurnal variation to observatory
magne-tograms, as evidenced in figure 5a. A detailed Fourier
analy-sis of longer time series reveals frequencies corresponding
tocoupled modulations driven by the solar cycle, Earths orbitaround
the Sun, the Moons orbit around Earth, and Earthsrotation. Through
application of Ampres law, the corre-sponding ionospheric currents
can be mapped;8 figure 5b re-veals that the quiet-time current
system is dominated by twoday-side current gyres. Earths rotation
under that currentsystem gives rise to the quiet-time daily
variation of the mag-netic field.
Prominent in Figure 5a is the daily variation in the mag-
netogram from Huancayo, Peru. First observed in the 1920s,soon
after the Carnegie Institution of Washington estab-lished the
Huancayo observatory, the variation is the resultof the ionospheres
anisotropic electrical conductivity. OnEarths day side, in a
roughly 5-wide band near the mag-netic equator, the horizontal
ambient magnetic field and avertical electrical field maintained by
charge separationacross the thickness of the ionosphere combine to
facilitatethe eastwest motion of charge carriers. That gives a
con-centrated flow of daytime electric current toward the eastand
the observed enhancement of diurnal magnetic varia-tion at
observatories like Huancayo that are located veryclose to the
magnetic equator.
Magnetic storms and the magnetosphereThe extent of the
geomagnetic field in near-Earth space de-fines the magnetosphere
(see references 7 and 9 and the arti-cle by Syun-Ichi Akasofu and
Louis J. Lanzerotti, PHYSICSTODAY, December 1975, page 28). The
shape of the magne-tosphere, depicted in figure 6a, is determined
by a supersonicsolar wind of electrons and ionized hydrogen and
heliumthat moves at speeds of 2502000 km/s. Inside a resultingshock
wave, the magnetic field of the magnetosphere on theSun side is
compressed, with a magnetopause at about 10Earth radii (10 R). On
the opposite, night side, the magne-tosphere is drawn out into a
long tail whose length can exceed 100 R.
One can also describe the magnetosphere in terms of
itsconstituent electric currents. The magnetopause is then de-fined
by a surrounding current that flows eastward near theequatorial
plane. The magnetotail can be defined in terms of
34 February 2008 Physics Today www.physicstoday.org
SPTSpain-4.3
EBRSpain0.5
AQUItaly13.3
SUARomania26.2
H
Z
300 nT100 nT
TIME (hours)0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Figure 4. Magnetic-field variation reveals differences
insubsurface electrical conductivity. Shown here are magne-tograms
taken on 2021 November 2003 at European ob-servatories of specified
longitudes. Horizontal-intensity (H,blue) variation is driven by a
storm in the magnetosphere.Site-to-site differences in the downward
(Z, red) componentare due to induced electric currents in the ocean
and crust.
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a westward equatorial current sheet. The magnetospheric
in-terior within about 36 R contains a neutral plasma of 1-
to200-keV hydrogen and oxygen ions and lower-energy elec-trons.
Those particles undergo a complicated dance consist-ing of
cyclotron motion around magnetic-field lines, bouncesbetween mirror
points in the Northern and Southern Hemi-spheres where field lines
converge, and a slow migrationacross field lines due to gradients
in the magnetic field. Thenet result is that ions tend to drift
westward and electronseastward, a contrary motion that gives rise
to a westwardequatorial ring current.
Along with the solar wind, the interplanetary
magneticfielditself an extension of the heliomagnetic
fieldcontrolsthe behavior of the magnetosphere. Diffusion allows
the in-terplanetary magnetic field and geomagnetic field to
connect,opening the interior of the magnetosphere to
interplanetaryspace. Figure 6a depicts magnetic connection on the
magne-tospheres day side (for additional discussion of
magneticconnection, see PHYSICS TODAY, October 2001, page 16);
onthe night side, an opposite process occurs with disconnectionof
interplanetary and geomagnetic field lines in the magne-totail.
With an open magnetosphere, the dragging of fieldlines across
Earths polar cap by the solar wind establishes asolar-wind dynamo.
That induces convection-like motion ofplasma in the magnetosphere
and polar ionosphere, and itcan energize the ring current.
Occasionally, abrupt ejections or high-speed streams ofplasma
from the Sun push the magnetosphere into a highlydynamic,
time-dependent state called a magnetic storm. Thatcolorful
expression was coined by von Humboldt in 1808 todescribe occasional
periods during which ground-basedmeasurements show large, rapid,
and irregular variation ofthe geomagnetic field. A magnetic storm
can last from sev-eral hours to several days. Some also exhibit
shorter-durationsubstorms.10 The cause and effect of substorms is
controver-
sial, but, generally speaking, substorms result from a
tempo-rary buildup of energy in the magnetotail that is released
ex-plosively through a sudden collapse of part of the tail
currentand diversion of current along magnetic-field lines. As a
re-sult, the magnetospheric electric circuit closes through
theionosphere, a detour that can give rise to beautiful
auroraldisplays at high latitudes.
The Halloween stormOne of the largest magnetic storms on record
occurred justbefore Halloween 2003. Figure 6b shows
horizontal-intensitymagnetograms of that storm, which was initiated
by a coro-nal mass ejection associated with a large sunspot group.
Ob-servatory magnetograms recorded a sudden impulsivechange during
the distinctive initial phase (I) that resultedfrom solar-wind
compression of the magnetopause and mag-netic connection. The
following main phase (M) was distin-guished by a general decrease
in H at low magnetic latitudes,the signature of an increasing
equatorial ring current: Thewestward ring current generates a
southward magnetic fieldin its interior, the Earth side. Since the
generated field pointsopposite to Earths prevailing northward
dipole field, it de-creases H. Indeed, a longitudinal average of
the disturbancein H from low-latitude observatories is proportional
to theaverage increase in strength of the ring current. The
recoveryphase (R) of the storm corresponds to ring-current
diminu-tion and a return of low-latitude H to prestorm levels.
TheHalloween storm is somewhat unusual in that it exhibitedtwo main
phases, each followed by a recovery period.
A detailed comparison of low- and high-latitude mag-netograms
reveals substorm occurrences during the Hal-loween storm. For
example, figure 6b displays data from twocomparable longitude pairs
of observatories that show in-termittent periods of
anticorrelation. During those timespartial collapse of the ring or
tail current gives an increase
www.physicstoday.org February 2008 Physics Today 35
BFEDenmark+55.4
TEOMexico+28.8
HUAPeru1.8
HBKSouth Africa27.1
EYRNew Zealand47.1
281 282 283 284 285 286
LOCAL DAY NUMBER
a b
50 nT
Figure 5. Magnetograms recording quiet times. (a) Datafrom five
observatories show the horizontal intensity H for812 October 2003.
The magnetograms are arranged bygeomagnetic latitude, which is
measured relative to the axisof Earths tilted dipole. Diurnal
variation is prominent, espe-cially for the Huancayo (HUA)
observatory located near themagnetic equator. Note the change in
polarity of the varia-tion at high latitudes. (b) Observatory data
can be used tomap the electric currents in the ionosphere that
sustain quiet-time variation. Shown here is a map for noon,
GreenwichMean Time. Contour lines indicate 10-kA increments;
more
densely packed contour lines indicate higher local current
density. Red contours indicate clockwise-circulating current;
bluecontours, counterclockwise current.
-
in H at low latitudes, while closure of the current systemalong
field lines and through the ionosphere gives a simul-taneous
decrease in H at high latitudes. Thus magnetic-observatory data can
be used to monitor the electric circuitof the coupled
magnetosphericionospheric system,notwithstanding that every
magnetic storm has its ownunique and often complex character.
Space climate and weatherThe Suns dynamo is oscillatory. As a
result, the Suns mag-netic polarity reverses once every 11 years or
so and sunspotnumber and solar irradiance wax and wane (see
reference 7and the article by Judith Lean, PHYSICS TODAY, June
2005,page 32). Figure 7 shows that magnetic activity, as measuredby
the monthly standard deviation in H, is modulated inphase with the
solar cycle. The spikes in magnetic standarddeviation during, for
example, the years 1921, 1941, and 1989correspond to large magnetic
storms. The discovery that
magnetic storms are more likely to occur during periods
ofsunspot maxima and less likely to occur with sunspot min-ima was
one of the most important in the history of spacephysics. It was
made in 1852 by the astronomer and Britishmajor general Edward
Sabine, who carefully analyzed a longtime series of data collected
by various magnetic observato-ries including one located, at the
time, in Toronto. In hiswords, the discovery gave to geomagnetism a
much higherposition in the scale of distinct natural forces than
was pre-viously assigned to it.11
Understanding magnetic storms is important for riskmitigation.
Storm-induced currents in the crust can be a nui-sance for the
electric power industry, since they can find theirway into power
lines and transformers through ground con-nections.12 The most
prominent example of that particularhazard occurred in March 1989,
when a large magnetic stormled to the collapse of the electrical
power grid serving the en-tire Canadian province of Quebec.
Magnetic storms interferewith magnetic crustal surveys undertaken
for mapping andmineral exploration, and they interfere with in situ
magneticorientation systems used for directional drilling.
Duringmagnetic storms, long-distance radio communication can
bedifficult, and the accuracy of global positioning systems canbe
reduced. In space, satellite electronics can be damaged
andsatellite orbital drag enhanced. Astronauts and
high-altitudepilots might be subjected to increased radiation.
Since magnetic storms were first identified throughground-based
magnetic measurement, it is perhaps not sur-prising that standard
measures of magnetic-storm size aredefined using
magnetic-observatory data. Real-time obser-vatory data are used for
low-cost monitoring or nowcast-ing of space weather. And historical
observatory data enablestatistical studies of how storms are
distributed in time andhow big they can be. Because of the
potential risk to the ac-tivities and infrastructure of our modern,
technology-basedsociety, the US federal government supports the
interagencyNational Space Weather Program. Similar programs
alsoexist in Japan and Europe.
The wide-ranging utility of magnetic-observatory datatestifies
to the importance of programs dedicated to accurateand long-term
geophysical measurement. And the datathemselves are a lasting
legacy of the many hard-working in-dividuals who have supported
observatory operations for al-most 170 years.
I thank William S. Leith for encouraging me to write this
article andArnaud Chulliat, Carol A. Finn, David J. Kerridge,
Stefan Maus, RobertL. McPherron, Lawrence R. Newitt, Leif
Svalgaard, Jeremy N. Thomas,and E. William Worthington for
reviewing a draft manuscript.
36 February 2008 Physics Today www.physicstoday.org
Interplanetary magnetic field
Solarwind
Connectionpoint
Ringcurrent
Tailcurrent
a
bABKSweden18.8QSBLebanon35.6
TIKRussia129.0BMTChina113.3
CMOAlaska212.2HONHawaii202.0
PBQCanada282.2SJGPuerto Rico293.9
4000 nT400 nT
I M R M R
302 303 304 305
TIME (days)
Figure 6. Earths magnetosphere is shaped and controlled bythe
Sun. (a) Schematic representation of the magnetosphere.Blue lines
represent magnetic fields, and red lines representcurrents.
Magnetic connection is shown on the day side of themagnetosphere,
where a southward-pointing interplanetaryfield merges with a
northward-pointing geomagnetic field. (b) Data from eight
observatories show the disturbed horizon-tal intensity H during the
Halloween magnetic storm of 2831October 2003. The magnetograms are
arranged by longi-tude; red traces correspond to
low-magnetic-latitude observa-tories and blue lines to
observatories at high latitudes. Theinitial (I), main (M), and
recovery (R) phases are discussed inthe text. The circled
anticorrelations between high- and low-latitude magnetograms are
indicative of substorms.
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References1. S. Chapman, J. Bartels, Geomagnetism, Clarendon
Press, Oxford,
UK (1962); S. Matsushita, W. H. Campbell, eds., Physics of
Geomag-netic Phenomena, Academic Press, New York (1967); J. A.
Jacobs,ed., Geomagnetism, Academic Press, San Diego, CA
(198791).
2. J. Jankowski, C. Sucksdorff, Guide for Magnetic Measurements
andObservatory Practice, International Association of
Geomagnetismand Aeronomy, Warsaw, Poland (1996).
3. F. H. Busse, Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 11, 241 (1983); P.
H.Roberts, A. M. Soward, Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech. 24, 459 (1992).
4. V. Courtillot, J. L. Le Moul, Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci.
16, 389(1988); J. Bloxham, D. Gubbins, A. Jackson, Philos. Trans.
R. Soc.London Ser. A 329, 415 (1989); S. Maus et al., Phys. Earth
Planet.Inter. 151, 320 (2005).
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See www.pt.ims.ca/16297-14
50
10
DE
VIA
TIO
N(n
T)
100
10
1
SU
NS
PO
TN
UM
BE
R
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
YEAR
a
b
Figure 7. Magneticactivity is driven by theSun. (a) The
monthlystandard deviation inthe horizontal intensityH as measured
atGerman observatories.(b) Monthly averagesfor sunspot number.