Establishment of Abdus Salam Geomagnetic Observatory Sonmiani,

Pakistan: Site Selection to INTERMAGNET Certification

Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission

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G. MurtazaSpace Science Department

SUPARCO

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Earth’s Magnetic Field

Magnetic fields are produced by the motion of electrical charges.

Origin of the geomagnetic field is not completely understood.

It is thought to be associated with the electrical currents produced

by the coupling of convective effects and rotation in the spinning

liquid metallic outer core of iron and nickel.

Rocks that are formed from the molten state contains indicators of

the magnetic field.

To continuously record time variations of the magnetic field for

historical archive

To update global geomagnetic models

To monitor magnetic storms that may affect satellite and its

operation, aviation, radio communication, power grids, pipelines

and navigation

Geomagnetic Field Monitoring

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Source: ESA Cluster Mission, Oct 2007http://Sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=41473

Source: Primer on Solar Space Env, 2011http://koeri.boun.edu.tr/astronomy/resim/gunes12.gif

Global Network of Geomagnetic Observatories

More than 200 observatories are being operated around the world

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Source: NGDC, NOAA Total Magnetic Field for 2000 based on IGRF2000http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/operobs.html

Geomagnetic Field Monitoring in Pakistan

Year Description

1953Establishment of geomagnetic observatory at Quetta – British Geological Survey (BGS)

1967 Establishment of geomagnetic observatory at Gilgit – BGS

1983 Establishment of geomagnetic observatory at Karachi

2007Upgradation of Karachi geomagnetic observatory – Royal Institute of Meteorology (IRM) + BGS

2008Establishment of Islamabad geomagnetic observatory and shifting of Karachi geomagnetic observatory to Sonmiani-IRM

2014 INTERMAGNET Certification of Sonmiani geomagnetic observatory

2016 Renovation of Sonmiani observatory to improve data quality5

Non-Operational

Operational

Islamabad

Karachi

Quetta

Geographic Locations of Geomagnetic Observatories in Pakistan

Latitude: 30o 21’ 36”

Longitude: 67o 01’ 12”

INDIA

AFGHANISTAN

IRAN

CHINA

ARABIAN SEA

Latitude: 35o 55’ 13”

Longitude: 74o 18’ 29”

Latitude: 24o 56’ 51.4”

Longitude: 67o 08’ 15.9”

Sonmiani

Latitude: 24o 06' 48"

Longitude: 66o 27' 0.2"

Gilgit

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Latitude: 33o 27’ 0.3”

Longitude: 73o 04’ 53”

Geomagnetic Observatory, Karachi

The geomagnetic observatory established at Karachi in 1983

• Latitude: 24o 56’ 51.4”

• Longitude: 67o 08’ 15.9”

The AMOS-III of Karachi Geomagnetic Observatory at the Head Quarters comprised of the following instruments:

• Fluxgate magnetometer FM-100C for X, Y & Z magnetic field component measurements

• Proton Precession Magnetometer PPM-105 for total field measurement

AMOS-III Sensors Magnetograms

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Geomagnetic Observatory, Karachi

Upgraded in 2007 by INtermagnet DIgital Geomagnetic

Observatory (INDIGO) system, donated by BGS

Obsolete due to urbanization, shifted to FTR, Sonmiani in 2008

with upgraded instruments

INDIGO System

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Geomagnetic Observatory, Sonmiani

Survey for Site Selection Sonmiani, a coastal town in the southeast of Balochistan Province was selected for new observatory

Geographic Coordinates:

Latitude: 24o 06' 48"

Longitude: 66o 27' 0.2"

Magnetically clean environment

Calculated declination was 04' 42"

~85km north of Karachi

Site selection

Magnetic survey

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Non-magnetic huts were constructed for both the sensors

Main building and huts were connected by underground cables

10 m

2

1

4

20 m

325 m

Legends:

1. Main Building

2. dIdD sensor hut

3. Absolute Pillar

4. LAMA sensor hut

Sensor huts

Ground plan

Construction

Absolute pier

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Instruments for the observatory:

• Delta Inclination Delta Declination (dIdD) (GSM-19FD) – data resolution is 2.5 sec, GEM Canada

• Fluxgate magnetometer data logger type FLV1/A ”LAMA” variometers –data resolution is 5 sec, IRM, Belgium

• DI-flux Theodolite (ZEISS) MINGEO, Hungary

dIdD LAMADI-Flux Theodolite

Instrumentation

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Instruments (dIdD and LAMA) were installed in July 2008

Both sensors with 12V backup battery were installed in non-magnetic huts

Data-logger along with the LAMA electronics console, dIdD electronics and the two PCswere placed in the main building

Instrument electronics and PCs were powered by UPS as power crises issues persist

In near future, electric generator will be installed to avoid data gaps due to power loss

Installation

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Absolute measurements are made twice a day and 5 days a week

Data is transmitted to the main processing facility in Karachi

Data is regularly uploaded to one of INTERMAGNET GINs at Edinburgh

Data is processed on monthly/yearly basis

Data Acquisition & Processing

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LAMA variometer is recalibrated after 2-3 years

Last recalibration was undertaken in September 2014

Instruments Recalibration

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Lightening struck on March 3, 2014 near

observatory premises

Caused critical damage to the

instruments in the observatory

Various components of instrument and

computers burnt-out

Lightening Strike at the Observatory

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The restoration of the observatory was carried out between Sep 5-10, 2014 as follows:

• Rectification of the fault/ re-installation of the variometer

• Recalibration of the system as per standards

• Training on recalibration of the variometer

Lightening Strike at the Observatory

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Data Quality Improvement Measures

Observatory was renovated in 2016 to improve the quality of data

Installed lightening arrester to avoid further lightening incidences

Before After

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Data Quality Improvement Measures

Increased thickness of sensor huts minimize temperature variations

Before After

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Data Quality Improvement Measures

Installed shade over absolute pillar to minimize deterioration in the instrument due to direct exposure to sunlight

Before After

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Observatory Baseline

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INTERMAGNET Certification

The INTERMAGNET establishes a global network of cooperating digital magnetic observatories.

INTERMAGNET has Geomagnetic Information Nodes (GINs) in 5 countries.

123 observatories from 44 countries participating in this program.

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Source: INTERMAGNET GIN,http://www.intermagnet.org/gins-eng.php

Source: INTERMAGNET Observatories, Google mapshttp://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1poT_rljgGHDiwfuYupbQP8GTHHE&hl=en

INTERMAGNET Certification

SUPARCO joined INTERMAGNET as full participating member

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Data usage

Monitoring and recording secular variation of local geomagnetic field

Monitoring of magnetic activity and magnetic storms

Repeat station work for preparation of magnetic charts

Preparation of solar/ionospheric/geomagnetic activity summary

Data sharing with national and international institutes/ organizations

Scientific studies

Geomagnetic storm

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The 1st Workshop on “Geomagnetic Observatories and their Applications” washeld for OIC member countries, 03-13 April, 2012 at the GeomagneticObservatory, Islamabad with the collaboration of IRM, Belgium, ISNET & NCP.About 24 participants attended the Workshop among whom 15 were foreigners.

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1st OIC Workshop on Geomagnetism

Activities in the context of SpW

Monitoring of geomagnetic field

Monitoring and study of ionosphere

Monitoring of solar activity

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SpW Operation/ Research

Provision of SpW data and services to help mitigate risks to

technological systems, operations and applications

Provision of timely alerts and advisory regarding SpW to

national agencies

Sharing of data for carrying out scientific studies

Collaboration with international SpW forecast centres for

improvement of assimilative models and services

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International Membership

International Real-time Magnetic Network (INTERMAGNET)

Asia-Oceania Space Weather Alliance (AOSWA)

Inter program Coordination Team on Space Weather

(ICTSW)

Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO)

• Atmospheric effects on ionospheric modeling through

study of radio wave propagation and solar activity

• Research on determining precursors ionospheric

signatures of Earthquake by ground based ionospheric

sounding

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SUPARCO supports the idea of data sharing for

development of regional models & caring out scientific

research/ studies as proposed in the 3rd AOSWA

Workshop, Fukuoka, Japan 2015

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Regional Cooperation

Thank You

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