Australian Geomagnetism Report 2006 Summary

Introduction

During 2006 Geoscience Australia operated nine geomagnetic observatories in Australia, the sub-Antarctic, and the Australian Antarctic Territory. The observatories were at Kakadu and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Charters Towers in Queensland, Learmonth and Gnangara in Western Australia, Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, Macquarie Island, Tasmania, in the sub-Antarctic, and Casey and Mawson in the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Geomagnetic time-series data with a range of temporal resolutions were provided to collaborators and data repositories in Australia, Japan, France, Germany, UK and USA. K indices were scaled with computer assistance for Canberra, Gnangara and Mawson observatories. Principal magnetic storms and rapid variations were scaled for Canberra and Gnangara. Magnetic-activity data were provided to agencies in Australia, Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, UK and USA. K indices from Canberra contributed to the southern hemisphere Ks index and the global Kp, am and aa indices, and those from Gnangara contributed to the global am index.

During January 2006 the magnetic repeat station at Hobart, Tasmania, was re-occupied and data collected to monitor the secular variation at that station.

This report describes instrumentation and activities, and presents annual mean magnetic values, plots of hourly mean magnetic values and K indices at the magnetic observatories and repeat stations operated by Geoscience Australia during the calendar year 2006.

Download this report

• Australian Geomagnetism Report 2006 (Volume 54) [PDF: 4.9Mb]