Identification

Title

UK Magnetic Observatory Magnetograms.

Abstract

Magnetograms are records of variations in the strength and direction of the Earth’s magnetic field. Historically these magnetograms were recorded on paper using photographic techniques. In the UK, measurements were made at eight long-running observatories; Abinger, Eskdalemuir, Falmouth, Greenwich, Hartland, Kew, Lerwick, and Stonyhurst. BGS also hold magnetogram records from the Cape Evans observatory that ran continuously at Robert Falcon Scott’s Antarctic base camp during the British Antarctic Expedition 1910–13. The magnetogram collection, one of the longest running geomagnetic series in the world, provides a continuous record of more than 160 years of UK measurements. These magnetograms start in the 1840s and end in 1986 at which time digital recording of the magnetic field took over and magnetograms can be produced by computer graphic. The plots show variation in the Earth's magnetic field, typically over a 24-hour period. The collection is a valuable, partly untapped data resource for studying geomagnetic storms, space weather and the evolution of the Earth’s magnetic field. The magnetograms provide insight into: • the Earth’s outer core: long-term change (years to centuries) in the dynamo that sustains our magnetic field • space weather: short-term changes (seconds to days) in near-Earth space and on the ground • space climate: long-term change (decades to centuries) in solar activity and consequences for Earth’s environment All the above have an impact on human activities. For example, bad space weather affects technologies that we increasingly rely on, such as electrical power and GPS networks. In response to the threat of loss from degradation due to age and a desire to preserve and exploit old data, BGS undertook a programme of work to digitally photograph, archive and preserve the analogue paper records of magnetic field variation in the United Kingdom. Between 2009 and 2013, high-quality digital images of every available magnetogram were taken. These images are available to search online. Scientists and the general public around the world can now gain easy access to this historical dataset.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

https://www.bgs.ac.uk/information-hub/scanned-records/magnetograms/

name: BGS Magnetograms - Homepage

function: search

Unique resource identifier

code

http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13480124

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Additional information source

Last magnetogram was for 01-DEC-1986. All magnetograms that were recorded are available. Observatories are at several UK locations.

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

GEMET - INSPIRE themes

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2008-06-01

Keyword set

keyword value

Geomagnetism

Observatories

originating controlled vocabulary

title

BGS Thesaurus of Geosciences

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2011

Keyword set

keyword value

NERC_DDC

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-8.6500

East bounding longitude

1.7800

North bounding latitude

60.8600

South bounding latitude

49.7700

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

ISO 3166_1 alpha-3

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2009

code identifying the extent

GB

Extent group

authority code

title

British Geological Survey Gazetteer: Geographical hierarchy from Geosaurus

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1979

code identifying the extent

UK [id=139300]

Extent group

authority code

title

ISO 3166_2

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2009

code identifying the extent

UKM

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

1840

End position

1986

Dataset reference date

date type

creation

effective date

1841

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

Original paper magnetograms recorded using photographic techniques at Abinger, Eskdalemuir, Falmouth, Greenwich, Hartland, Kew, Lerwick, and Stonyhurst magnetic observatories. Additionally, magnetograms from the Cape Evans observatory that ran continuously at Robert Falcon Scott’s Antarctic base camp during the British Antarctic Expedition 1910–13. Magnetograms start in the 1840s and end in 1986 at which time digital recording of the magnetic field took over and magnetograms can be produced by computer graphic. In response to the threat of loss from degradation due to age and a desire to preserve and exploit old data, BGS undertook a programme of work to digitally photograph, archive and preserve the analogue paper records of magnetic field variation in the United Kingdom. Between 2009 and 2013, high-quality digital images of every available magnetogram were taken. These images are available to search online. Scientists and the general public around the world can now gain easy access to this historical dataset. The programme of work to complete the magnetogram digitisation is ongoing and more will be added, observatory by observatory.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

INSPIRE Implementing rules laying down technical arrangements for the interoperability and harmonisation of Geology

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2011

degree

false

explanation

See the referenced specification

Conformity report

specification

title

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2010-12-08

degree

false

explanation

See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF

Data format

name of format

PAPER - Paper copies.

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, via the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Manager. Use by customers of information provided by the BGS, is at the customer's own risk. In view of the disparate sources of information at BGS's disposal, including such material donated to BGS, that BGS accepts in good faith as being accurate, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the quality or accuracy of the information supplied, or to the information's suitability for any use. NERC/BGS accepts no liability whatever in respect of loss, damage, injury or other occurence however caused.

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

organisation name

British Geological Survey

full postal address

The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South

EDINBURGH

EH14 4AP

United Kingdom

telephone number

0115 936 3142

facsimile number

0115 936 3276

email address

enquiries@bgs.ac.uk

responsible party role

distributor

Responsible party

organisation name

British Geological Survey

full postal address

The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South

EDINBURGH

EH14 4AP

United Kingdom

telephone number

0115 936 3142

facsimile number

0115 936 3276

email address

enquiries@bgs.ac.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

organisation name

British Geological Survey

full postal address

The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South

EDINBURGH

EH14 4AP

United Kingdom

telephone number

+44 131 667 1000

email address

enquiries@bgs.ac.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2024-03-14

Metadata language

eng