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Volume 52 Supplement 12

Special Issue: Geomagnetic Field Modelling and IGRF 2000

Improving the modelling of the geomagnetic main-field: Isolating the average ionospheric field in satellite data

Earth, Planets and Space volume 52, pages 1199–1206 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Olsen’s method (Olsen, 1996) is applied to Magsat magnetic field data to deduce average quiet-time and active-time ionospheric current systems at middle to high North and South latitudes. Spot magnetic field values at ground level are calculated from the average models and are ‘ground-truthed’ against observatory data. The results suggest that synoptic ionospheric models from Magsat-quality satellite data may be helpful in reducing the contamination of the main-field by non-field-aligned ionospheric sources. We discuss how the technique may be applied to data from the Ørsted mission and the extent to which these ionospheric field models may therefore be useful in improved modelling of the geomagnetic main field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Seismology and Geomagnetism Group, British Geological Survey, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3LA, Scotland, UK

    A. W. P. Thomson

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  1. A. W. P. Thomson
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Correspondence to A. W. P. Thomson.

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Thomson, A.W.P. Improving the modelling of the geomagnetic main-field: Isolating the average ionospheric field in satellite data. Earth Planet Sp 52, 1199–1206 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352352

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352352

Keywords

  • Satellite Data
  • Auroral Zone
  • Magnetic Local Time
  • Ionospheric Model
  • Auroral Oval