Development of unmanned magnetometer stations for use in Antarctica

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: Saka, O., Sato, N., Uchida, S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1990
• Subjects: Geology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Oceanography; Antarctic; Syowa Station; Mizuho; Skarvsnes; Antarc*; Antarctic Science; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102090000499; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102090000499

Unmanned magnetometer stations (UMS) have been developed and were installed at remote location near Syowa station, Antarctica (69°S, 40°E) to perform field tests in the harsh Antarctic environment. The UMS was powered by a thermo-electric generator fuelled by kerosene (LTEG) which supplies 87 Watts continuously to the load. The LTEG and instrumentation (flux gate magnetometer, data logger, chronometer) were installed in a thermally insulated shelter (0.9 m by 1.8 m by 1.9 m). The shelter and an 800 l fuel tank were mounted on a sled, and were towed by snow tractor. The UMS were installed at Kizahasi beach, Skarvsnes (50 km south-west of Syowa) and at H-100 of the Mizuho route (100 km south of Syowa) in the early spring of 1988 and operated until the end of the year. The data obtained will be used for a study of the spatial phase and amplitude structure of the ionospheric current systems and a response of the local induction currents to them.