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Adjusted Geomagnetic Data—Theoretical Basis and Validation

Open-File Report 2020-1053
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201053

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Abstract

Adjusted geomagnetic data are magnetometer measurements with provisional correction factors applied such that vector quantities are oriented in a local Cartesian frame in which the X axis points north, the Y axis points east, and the Z axis points down. These correction factors are determined from so-called absolute measurements, which are “ground truth” observations made in the field using specialized magnetometers and survey equipment that are (nearly) colocated with the automated and continuously running magnetic measurement instrumentation. Correction factors can be substantial, up to hundreds of nanoTeslas, depending on the geologic and geomagnetic characteristics of the observatory site. They also tend to evolve over time because of instrument response instability and changing site characteristics. Historically, correction factors were determined offline, up to 1 year or more post-measurement, and applied to raw measurements to produce “Definitive” data for scientific analysis. Growing demand for corrected real-time geomagnetic data to better support space weather operations motivated development of an “Adjusted” geomagnetic data product. Modern computational tools, and some notable practical concerns, dictated a transition to affine transformations in lieu of more traditional baseline corrections, as well as a calibration parameter estimation algorithm that is more robust and statistically optimal, and therefore better suited for automated and unsupervised execution. A theoretical basis for this algorithm is presented, along with a demonstration and validation based on a comparison of results obtained with traditional techniques. Discrepancies between Definitive corrected data and near real-time Adjusted data obtained using affine transformations are minimal, generally much less than 5 nanoTeslas per vector component, and less than 1 nanoTesla for the total field magnitude, which satisfies International Real-Time Magnetic Observatory Network (INTERMAGNET) standards.

Suggested Citation

Rigler, E.J., and Claycomb, A.E., 2020, Adjusted geomagnetic data—Theoretical basis and validation: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1053, 19 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201053.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Motivation
  • Traditional Baseline Adjustments
  • Affine Transformations
  • Estimating Affine Transformation
  • Adaptive Affine Matrices
  • Adjusting Data
  • Summary and Conclusions
  • Acknowledgments
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Adjusted geomagnetic data—Theoretical basis and validation
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2020-1053
DOI 10.3133/ofr20201053
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Geologic Hazards Science Center
Description iv, 19 p.
Online Only (Y/N) Y
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