Definition
Magnetic observatory. Magnetic observatories continuously measure the Earth’s magnetic field at fixed locations at the Earth’s surface. They are designed to operate for several decades to stably record rapid and slow variations of the earth’s magnetic field and report time-averaged values that estimate the form of the Earth’s magnetic field. Since observatories started operating in the nineteenth century, the methods of measurement, reporting, and analysis have varied over region and time. After the International Geophysical Year (IGY – 1957–1958), the quality and organization of the data have been standardized, making spatial and temporal studies easier, more refined, and consequent models more accurate. The International Association for Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) is the coordinating body for the magnetic observatories of the world, standardization of measurement, exchange of data, and presentation of models of the Earth’s magnetic field. There are about 200 magnetic...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Bibliography
Campbell, W. H., 1997. Introduction to Geomagnetic fields. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chapman, S., and Bartels, J., 1940. Geomagnetism. Oxford: Clarendon, Vol. I, II.
Jacobs, J. A. (ed.), 1989. Geomagnetism. London: Academic.
Jankowski, J., and Sucksdorf, C., 1996. Guide for Magnetic Measurements and Observatory Practice. Warsaw: IAGA, 238 pp.
Kearey, P., Brooks, M., and Hill, I., 2002. An Introduction to Geophysical Exploration, 3rd edn. New York: Wiley.
Matsushita, S., and Wallace, H. C. (eds.), 1967. Physics of Geomagnetic Phenomena. New York: Academic.
Maus, S., Macmillan, S., Chernova, T., Choi, S., Dater, D., Golovkov, V., Lowes, F., Lühr, H., Mai, W., McLean, S., Olsen, N., Rother, M., Sabaka, T., Thomson, A., and Zvereva, T., 2005. IGRF – The 10th generation international geomagnetic reference, International Association of Geomagnetism, Aeronomy (IAGA), Division V, Working Group VMOD, Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 151, 320–322.
Merrill, R. T., McElhinny, M. W., and McFadden, P. L., 1998. The Magnetic Field of the Earth. London: Academic Press International Geophysics Series, Vol. 63.
Parkinson, W. D., 1983. Introduction to Geomagnetism. Edinburgh: Scottish Academic.
Serson, S. H., 1973. Instrumentation for induction studies on land. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 7, 313–322.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this entry
Cite this entry
Nagarajan, N. (2011). Magnetic Methods, Surface. In: Gupta, H.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8702-7_121
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8702-7_121
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-8701-0
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-8702-7
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences