SAGE Variometers

In 2022, the SAGE BGS team installed three new variometers to measure magnetic field variation across the UK, filling in the 'gaps' between existing observatories. These cover an east-west line compared to the north-south coverage offered by the existing UK observatories. The new variometers are based on the design of the SWIGS differential magnetometer systems. The new variometers are installed at Florence Court (FLO), Market Harborough (LEI) and Herstmonceux Castle (HTX).

Magnetic coverage: Distance away from each magnetic observatory is colour-coded from red to yellow. (left) locations of existing magnetic observatories (blue circles); (right) With the locations of the new magnetic variometers (green circles).

Each variometer consists of a Sensys three-component fluxgate magnetomer, buried in a barrel for temperature stability, an EarthData Digitiser/Logger running Linux, 4G modem, control electronics, two car batteries for power and a solar panel to charge the batteries. The electronics and batteries are housed in a small garden bin store to protect them from the weather. The magnetic field is measured once per second, recorded on the logger and sent back to the BGS across the 4G mobile phone network once every five minutes.

The sites are selected to be magnetically quiet. This means being distant from any infrastructure that creates magnetic or electric field noise including at least 150 m from buildings, electric fences, large or moving vehicles and electified railway lines. We check for magnetic cleanliness by running tests with a proton precession magnetometer before a final installation.

With the new sites we will be better able to monitor the location and change of the auroral oval as it moves back and forward across the UK during geomagnetic storms. With the data flowing to us in near real time we can also use it to nowcast where issues from Geomagnetically Induced Currents created by geoelectric fields occur.

FLO: Florence Court, County Fermanagh

This site is the close to the most westerly point in Northern Ireland. Florence Court is a National Trust property located around 15 km south west of Enniskillen. The variometer was installed in February 2022 in one of the fields to the south of the stately home. The field is not open to visitors though is grazed by farm animals during the summer months.

Florence Court installation, showing the solar panel and the storage container for the electronics and batteries. The magnetometer is buried under the sod in the foreground.

LEI: Market Harborough, Leicestershire

This site sits close to the central point of England and is roughly equidistant from ESK and HAD observatories. The Market Harborough site is located south of Leicester in a field around 400 m from the main road. This site sits on top of a low hill allowing an excellent aspect for the solar panel. It will also remain dry during winter.

Market Harborough installation, showing the solar panel and the storage container for the electronics and batteries. The magnetometer is buried under the sod to the left.

HTX: Herstmonceux Castle, Sussex

Herstmonceux is part of the BGS Space Geodesy Facility. The site allows access directly to power and internet communications so does not require a standalone system like FLO or LEI. The magnetometer was buried in a permanent enclosure with buried cabling running back to the main observatory buildings. This site is slightly noisier than the others due to the proximity of the observatory (around 100 m away) and surrounding buildings. However, the trade off is that is easier to run and does not need batteries, a solar panel or 4G modem.

Herstmonceux installation, showing (a) the buried pipe for the magnetomer and (b) the power and communications wiring connected to the SGF observatory.

Example measurements

The measurements from the variometers are calibrated using scaling and offset factors determined by comparison to data from the Eskdalemuir observatory. However, as the temperature is not kept constant and the calibration factors are not checked weekly (as they are at observatories), then the magnetic field values are considered to be relative rather than absolute. The variation of the magnetic field is well captured, though for short periods (on the order of hours), which is useful for space weather applications. However, these systems cannot be used for determining the angle of declination for example or long term changes of the Earth's core field.

As an example of data quality, we show the comparison FLO and LEI for a minor storm on the 7/8th July 2022. The figure shows the horizontal intensity in the approximately magnetic North component (H), the intensity in the East component (E) and the variation in the vertical component (Z) for FLO and LEI for a quiet period (midnight on the 6th to midday on the 7th) before a period of minor geomagnetic activity (midday on the 7th to midnight on the 8th). FLO has a large spike before 12:00 which is likely artificial (e.g. someone or something stood on or near the sensor). Both systems have similar patterns over the three days which is very encouraging. They differ in detail though, which is to be expected as they are around 500 km apart.

Live data

Magnetograms showing the magnetic field variations for today and yesterday are available for the three new variometers stations.

Measurements of the magnetic field from the 6th to the 8th July 2022 at (left) FLO and (right) LEI. Time is in Universal Time (UT).

With thanks to:

Florence Court: Dave Tyson (NT), Malachy Martin (NT), Josie Parrianen (BGS), Juliane Huebert (BGS); Herstmonceux: Tom Martyn (BGS), Robert Lyon (BGS), Rob Sherwood (BGS); Market Harborough: Mark Newton, Suzie Imber and the staff and students of the Physics Department at University of Leicester; Magnetomer coverage visualisation: inspired by Joan Campanyá (IT Carlow).

Contact

For more information please contact Dr Ciaran Beggan.

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