Magnetic effects were detected by magnetometer installations around the
world to lesser or higher degrees depending on their proximity to the
northern hemisphere. GEM Advanced Magnetometer detected the storm via
its Potassium magnetometer (GSMP-40) installation throughout Wednesday.
Data were sampled at 10 times per second.
Data below show the magnitude of the storm and its magnetic effects. As
Dr. Ivan Hrvoic, President, noted, “This is the most intense storm that
I have seen in my career ... and I have been involved with magnetics and
magnetic instrumentation for many years.”
Figure 1: Magnetic storm
activity, Wednesday October 29, 2003 – 11:00 am to 4:00 pm EST.
Maximum amplitude is 56043 nT and minimum amplitude is 54894 nT. Data
acquired with GEM’s Potassium (GSMP-40) ultra-sensitive magnetometer.
As
indicated in the plot above, the storm was characterized by a period of
noise followed by a positive anomaly on the order of 500 nT and a
subsequent negative anomaly on the order of 900 nT. These latter results
are remarkable as the change from maximum to minimum occurred over the
period of approximately one hour.
While
severe, the amplitude of the shift to negative values did not approach a
significant percentage of the earth’s approximate amplitude of 56,000 nT
at this location (Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada). Maximal danger occurs
when the polarity of the incoming plasma is reversed from the direction
of the earth’s field – leading to “holes” in the magnetic layer that
protects the earth from severe damage. News outlets noted this effect in
their regular reports, available, for example, at www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/23/tech/main579650.shtml
Sunspot
activity has been at a high for several weeks as shown by a plot of
magnetic activity for Friday October 24. Here, we see a clear difference
in amplitude between the October 28 and October 24 events as indicated
by a maximum anomaly of approximately 55770 nT and a minimum anomaly of
approximately 55500 nT (i.e. 270 nT peak-to-peak value).
Figure 2: Magnetic storm
activity, Friday October 24, 2003 – 17:07 am to 22:39 pm EST. Maximum
amplitude is 56043 nT and minimum amplitude is 54894 nT. Data acquired
with GEM’s proprietary Overhauser (GSM-19) magnetometer.
These
types of results are valuable in terms of characterizing activity and in
helping to understand magnetic storms – a science that is still in its
infancy. Magnetic can research and monitoring holds the promise of
helping to alert us to the significant effects of magnetic storms to
communication systems, satellites, power grids and pipeline
infrastructure. For more information on current work and the
significance of magnetic measurements, please see
www.gemsys.ca/Quantum/Scientific/Protecting%20Us%20from%20the%20Sun's%20Fury.htm.
GEM
Advanced Magnetometers is the world-leader in production of magnetic
instrumentation for monitoring geomagnetic events on a long-term and
short-term basis. Instruments are installed in major observatories in
the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and many other
countries. Other instruments are also available for monitoring volcanic
and earthquake activity. For details, visit
http://www.gemsys.ca/apps_observatory.htm
GEM User Links
Below is a partial list of
Magnetic Observatories that have standardized on or implemented GEM Systems. If
you require additional information on a particular observatory listed (or not
listed) here, please contact GEM.
Canada. Canadian National Geomagnetic Program. Standardized on GEM.
Denmark.
Brorfelde Observatory. 2002 report, in part, describing Overhauser use for total
field measurement. Unlike other magnetometers the GSM-19 does not require
corrections (page 13).
Finland.
Numivarji Observatory,
Germany. Niemegk
and Munich Observatories.
Hungary.
Tihany Observatory.
Japan.
Kakioka Observatory and others.
South Africa.
Hermanus Observatory.
United Kingdom.
Multiple observatories, including Eskdalemuir Observatory, Scotland. British
Geological Survey has standardized on GEM.
www.geomag.bgs.ac.uk/eskdale.html
www.geomag.bgs.ac.uk/uksurvey.html
http://www.geomag.bgs.ac.uk/observatories.html
U.S.A.
Multiple observatories. USGS is standardizing on GEM.
GEM Advanced Magnetometers.
Our World is Magnetic.
