Antarctic International Magnetometer Network (AIMNet) Mervyn Freeman British Antarctic Survey Cambridge, U.K.

What is AIMNet? Coordinated international network of new and existing magnetometers in Antarctica.Coordinated international network of new and existing magnetometers in Antarctica. –Based on integration of existing national resources and modest innovative national expansions. –Gives recognised international identity that provides leverage for new initiatives. –Forum for development of new technology for science in remote environments. –All data available to world community through one web address hosted by BAS. –Complete database copied on CD/DVD to all AIMNet partners. Whole is greater than sum of parts.Whole is greater than sum of parts.

Why Now? International Polar Year 2007 provides natural focus for international Antarctic cooperation.International Polar Year 2007 provides natural focus for international Antarctic cooperation. New research programmes demand integrated approachNew research programmes demand integrated approach –ILWS: connects Sun and Earth –ICESTAR: connects northern and southern hemispheres –Themis: connects magnetosphere and ionosphere –SuperDARN: integrates ionospheric convection New low power magnetometer technology now availableNew low power magnetometer technology now available –proven in field –easy to deploy and low maintenance cost –minimal environmental footprint

The AIMNet vision Enhance existing Antarctic magnetometer base through coordination:Enhance existing Antarctic magnetometer base through coordination: –~20 mag’s at national bases –6 US AGO mag’s in field –11 UK and 4 Japanese low power mag’s in field Deploy new LPM clusters within 500 km of national stations/sitesDeploy new LPM clusters within 500 km of national stations/sites –e.g., Italian proposal for 6 LPMs –What if others did same? –LPMs available from BAS under contract (~$20k/unit) Individual mag’s owned and operated by individual nations with full autonomyIndividual mag’s owned and operated by individual nations with full autonomy All data accessible through BAS virtual hub.All data accessible through BAS virtual hub.

Linkage to SuperDARN Key: yellow - deployed brown – planned green - proposed Comprehensive measurement of high-latitude ionospheric electrodynamics.

LPM specification Up to 1 nT, 1 s resolution.Up to 1 nT, 1 s resolution. GPS timing.GPS timing. Automatic continual operation between annual data collection visits.Automatic continual operation between annual data collection visits % coverage % coverage. Low power consumptionLow power consumption –0.5 W from batteries charged by solar array and wind generator. –150 ms sample every 1 s Operation at ambient temperature (-80 o C min)Operation at ambient temperature (-80 o C min) Light weight, easy to deploy from ski-equipped plane in 2 hours.Light weight, easy to deploy from ski-equipped plane in 2 hours.

LPM performance 100% data coverage in 2003 from 11 LPMs at 1 s resolution (3564 data days)100% data coverage in 2003 from 11 LPMs at 1 s resolution (3564 data days) Performance checked against co-located AGO magnetometers.Performance checked against co-located AGO magnetometers. Correlation analysis of AGO A80 and co-located LPM M81-338

Summary AIMNet: Coordinated international network of new and existing magnetometers in Antarctica.AIMNet: Coordinated international network of new and existing magnetometers in Antarctica. Integrates existing magnetometer base.Integrates existing magnetometer base. Extends autonomous magnetometer networksExtends autonomous magnetometer networks –LPM clusters deployed by host nations within 500 km of bases. –New mag’s built to proven BAS LPM design under contract. Deploy for IPY 2007.Deploy for IPY All data available through one web address hosted by BAS.All data available through one web address hosted by BAS. Connects to new integrated science programmes.Connects to new integrated science programmes. Whole is greater than sum of parts.Whole is greater than sum of parts.