New BGS IMOs increasing the global coverage of high standard magnetic observatories

• Main Authors: Baillie, Orsi, Reay, Sarah, Clarke, Ellen, Turbitt, Christopher, Swan, Anthony
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: British Geological Survey 2015
• Subjects: Earth Sciences; Antarctic; Canada; King Edward Point; Antarc*; British Antarctic Survey
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514071/; https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514071/1/Baillie_et_al_NEW_BGS_IMOs.pdf; http://www.iugg2015prague.com/

The BGS operates seven geomagnetic observatories, four of which are located outside of the UK at remote locations. In 2014, the observatories at King Edward Point (KEP) on South Georgia and at Sable Island (SBL) offshore Nova Scotia were awarded INTERMAGNET (IMO) status, bringing the total number of BGS IMOs to seven. This increased the spatial distribution of high standard geomagnetic observatories in oceanic areas, improving the quality of global models of the Earth’s magnetic field. We describe some of the operational challenges encountered in operating KEP and SBL and present the data processing and results that have led to IMO status. KEP magnetic observatory was installed in February 2011 at a position near to the original South Georgia observatory (SGE2) operated by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to 1982. With BAS support the new KEP has operated successfully since then and despite its challenging and remote location, has achieved IMO status within 3.5 years. KEP results are especially important for the global modelling research community as it is located in a favourable position to monitor the dynamics of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). The observatory results are presented in relation to secular variation in the area over a number of decades. SBL was installed in May 1999, originally in partnership with a directional drilling company. In 2011, the ownership was transferred to BGS and operations have been maintained with the support of Environment Canada. A development programme has continued, leading to improved data quality and there are now >14 years of near-continuous observatory data sets and products which are available for scientific research.