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Geomagnetic Observations and Models pp 105–126Cite as

Instruments and Methodologies for Measurement of the Earth’s Magnetic Field

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Part of the book series: IAGA Special Sopron Book Series ((IAGA,volume 5))

Abstract

In modern magnetic observatories the most widely used instrument for recording magnetic field variations is the triaxial fluxgate magnetometer. For absolute observations, the declination-inclination magnetometer, in conjunction with a proton precession or an Overhauser magnetometer, is the norm. To meet the needs of users, a triaxial fluxgate must have a resolution of 0.01 nT. It must also have good temperature and long-term stability. Several sources of error can lead to degradation of the data, temperature variations and tilting of the sensors being among the most important. The declination-inclination magnetometer consists of a single-axis fluxgate sensor mounted on a nonmagnetic theodolite. With care, most sources of error can be eliminated, and an absolute accuracy of better than 0.1 arcmin is achievable. Proton precession and Overhauser magnetometers make use of the quantum-mechanical properties of protons and electrons to determine the strength of the magnetic field. The Overhauser magnetometer is rapidly supplanting the proton magnetometer (0.1 nT once per second sensitivity) because it can sample the field much more rapidly and precisely (0.01 nT once per second). Potassium magnetometers, which belong to the family of optically pumped magnetometers, are an attractive alternative to Overhauser magnetometers, especially when used in a dIdD instrument.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Secretary General of IAGA’s email is iaga_sg@gfz-potsdam.de

  2. 2.

    Chemical shifts are due to configuration of the sensor liquid molecules, their nuclear properties, orbital influences of electrons and their span is about 10 parts per million or about 0.5 nT in a field of 50,000 nT.

Abbreviations

AMOS:

Automatic Magnetic Observatory System (Canada)

ASMO:

Automatic Magnetic Observatory System (USA)

AUTODIF:

Automated DIM

BMZ:

Balance magnetometrique zero

CARISMA:

Canadian Array for Realtime Investi-gations of Magnetic Activity

CCD:

charge coupled device

dIdD:

(delta Inclination/delta Declination)

DIM:

Declination-inclination fluxgate magnetometer

DMI:

Danish Meteorological Institute

EDA:

Electronic Design Automation

EPR:

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance

GAUSS:

Geomagnetic Automated System

GPS:

Global Positioning System

IAGA:

International Association of Geomag-netism and Aeronomy

IGRF:

International Geomagnetic Reference Field

KASMMER:

Kakioka Automatic Standard Magnetometer

LEMI:

The Laboratory of Electromagnetic Innovations

MACCS:

Magnetometer Array for Cusp and Cleft Studies

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

NIM:

The National Institute of Metrology (CHINA)

NIST:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA)

NMR:

Nuclear magnetic resonance

NPL:

National Physical Laboratory (U.K.)

PCs:

Personal computers

PDAs:

Personal Digital Assistants

ppm:

proton precession magnetometer

ppm:

parts per million

QHM:

Quartz horizontal magnetometer

THEMIS:

Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms

TCXO:

Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator

TPM:

Torsion photoelectric magnetometer

TMS:

tetra methyl silane

UCLA:

University of California at Los Angeles’ fluxgate magnetometer

VNIIM:

D.I. Mendeleyev Institute for Metrology (RUSSIA)

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Jean Rasson and Barry Narod and the anonymous reviewer for their valuable input.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GEM Systems Inc., 135 Spy Court, Markham, ON, Canada, L3R 5H6

    Ivan Hrvoic

  2. Boreal Language and Science Services, 310 1171 Ambleside Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K2B 8E1

    Lawrence R. Newitt

Authors
  1. Ivan Hrvoic
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  2. Lawrence R. Newitt
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Correspondence to Ivan Hrvoic .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris G, Université Paris Diderot, rue Thomas Mann 5, Paris, 75205, France

    M. Mandea

  2. Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ), Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, 14473, Germany

    Monika Korte

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Hrvoic, I., Newitt, L.R. (2011). Instruments and Methodologies for Measurement of the Earth’s Magnetic Field. In: Mandea, M., Korte, M. (eds) Geomagnetic Observations and Models. IAGA Special Sopron Book Series, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9858-0_5

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