The National Geomagnetism Program, also called the USGS Geomagnetism Program, is a United States Geological Survey (USGS) program that monitors the Earth's magnetic field through ground-based magnetic observatories. The program distributes geomagnetic data for government, academic, and private-sector users and conducts research on geomagnetic variation, space weather, and geoelectric hazards.

The program is part of the USGS Natural Hazards Mission Area and is based in the Geologic Hazards Science Center in Golden, Colorado. Its observatory network supports space-weather monitoring, magnetic-field mapping, scientific research, and hazard assessment for electric-power, pipeline, satellite, communications, navigation, and other infrastructure.

Overview

The program's mission is to monitor the Earth's magnetic field, maintain long-term records of magnetic-field variation, disseminate magnetic data, and conduct research for scientific understanding and hazard mitigation. It provides data to governmental agencies, academic researchers, and private industries, including users involved in global magnetic-field modeling, space-weather services, aeromagnetic surveys, directional drilling, pipelines, and electric-power-grid operations.

Observatory network

The USGS operates 14 magnetic observatories in the United States and its territories. Magnetometer data from the observatories are transmitted to program headquarters in Golden. The network's geographic distribution is intended to support space-weather diagnosis, main-field modeling and mapping, and coordination with observatories operated by other national geomagnetism programs.

The observatories listed by the USGS are Boulder, Barrow, Stennis, College, Deadhorse, Fredericksburg, Fresno, Guam, Honolulu, Newport, Shumagin, Sitka, San Juan, and Tucson.

The USGS works with other national geomagnetism programs through INTERMAGNET, a consortium of observatory programs, and through the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy.

USGS data products include real-time observatory data feeds and derived products used in geomagnetic monitoring and geoelectric hazard modeling. The program also provides calibration, consultation, and compass-rose survey services related to magnetic instruments and magnetic-facility operations. During the 19th century, U.S. agencies established short-lived magnetic stations and produced magnetic-declination maps for the United States and its territories. The Coast and Geodetic Survey created a Division of Terrestrial Magnetism in 1889 after the purchase of Alaska increased the importance of coastal surveys.

The magnetic and seismological programs of the Coast and Geodetic Survey were united in 1925 under the Division of Geomagnetism and Seismology. The Coast and Geodetic Survey became part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1970, and in 1973 the USGS assumed responsibility for the national geomagnetism and seismology programs. The Boulder magnetic observatory has been operated by the USGS Geomagnetism Program since 1963 and supports scientific uses, developmental work, and collaborative projects. The Magsat satellite, launched in 1979, measured Earth's magnetic field from orbit; NASA described its data as supporting USGS preparation of 1980 world magnetic-field charts and detection of large-scale crustal magnetic anomalies.

See also

  • History of geomagnetism
  • Space Weather Prediction Center
  • World Magnetic Model

References

  • USGS Geomagnetism Program
  • USGS Geomagnetism data and tools