Journal notes, Comparing to NRCan Ottowa (OTT) plots
GELLER Labs "Backyard Science"
Thoughts on a proton precession magnetometer design - a Proton Magnetometer Project. Build an Earth's field magnetometer.
The FDM MAGNETOMETER1 project is a low cost high performance proton magnetometer (a digital magnetometer) kit under development for amateur scientists to be able to accurately measure and monitor changes in the Earth's total magnetic F field and to observe geomagnetic storms. Magnetic storms can cause large excursions in the field and are of concern to interests ranging from electrical power grids, radio communications, and satellite operations, to aurora watchers and amateur radio operators.
1 Filter Diagonalization Method "FDM" (harmonic inversion), see Jan 21 and Jan 23 entries, based on: Vladimir A. Mandelshtam, Howard S. Taylor, Harmonic inversion of time signals and its applications, Journal of Chemical Physics (1997), Volume 107, Issue 17, 1997, Pages 6756-6769
(be sure to hit refresh to pick up our latest changes and entries)
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Very early morning: Interesting, our plot this very early morning compares more favorably with with the Canadian Ottawa observatory (roughly 200 miles (320 km) North of our location) Bf plot PDF, than with any of the US stations. PDF, TXT, USGS PDF. It seems that some short term events look much the same across the US, while at other times, pulse or impulse shapes vary dramatically with both latitude and longitude. North American amateur observatories might want to compare their data with the various magnetic observatories of Natural Resources Canada.
Overnight: PDF, TXT, Canada OTT PDF. Side by side comparison of our plot to OTT PDF. Keep in mind that OTT is 200 miles north of our location with a > 1,200 nT higher average field (positive offset).
With the large difference in wave shapes between the relatively sparse network of existing stations, would a more dense network of geomagnetic observatories have scientific value?
One could imagine a synthesized 3D plot showing Bf (magnitude of the Earth's total field F vector) with a higher spatial (geographic) resolution over wide geographic areas. This could be a combined network of professional and amateur observations. Or, given the relatively low cost of our FDM magnetometer design, governments and/or universities could easily construct a far more dense network of magnetic observatories.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Overnight: PDF, TXT, NRCan OTT PDF. Sample FDM spectra (evening): s1, log s1
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Overnight: PDF, TXT, NRCan OTT PDF, Sample FDM spectra: s1, log s1 side by side comparison of NRCan OTT to our plot (Upstate, NY, about 200 miles south, so they should not be an exact match) PDF.
afternoon: interesting minor disturbances at about 2000 and 2100 UTC PDF, NRCan OTT PDF, seen across North America USGS PDF.
evening: looking over the last couple of days shows an unsettled, almost stormy period this afternoon, PDF. The straight line from yesterday afternoon reflects the system placed in standby for the weekly lawn mowing (the sensor cable was temporarily rolled up, most amateur observatories should probably include a waterproof connector for this purpose).
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Overnight: PDF, TXT, NRCan OTT PDF.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Overnight: PDF, TXT, NRCan OTT PDF, USGS PDF. In recent days our Bf plot (magnitude of the total Earth's field F vector) here in upstate, NY continues to better match the NRCan OTT observatory plots, than the plots from the more distant USGS geomagnetic observatories to the south and south west.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Overnight: PDF, TXT, NRCan OTT PDF, USGS PDF. A report on NPR's Science Friday this afternoon discussed with a prediction by solar astronomer Dr. David Hathaway of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center that this coming peak in the 11 year solar cycle might be less active. Interesting, time will tell. Both NASA and NOAA predict the peak around the summer of 2013, so there should be plenty of time for amateur scientists to build their own FDM magnetometers. I should start laying out the PC board pretty soon!
Saturday, July 3 , 2010
Overnight: PDF, TXT, NRCan OTT PDF, USGS PDF. The events around 11pm (3am UTC) better match the NRCan OTT station's plot, however the period this morning PDF better matches the USGS curves, particularly the FRD, VA observatory graph.
afternoon: I was connecting a simple rectifier/three terminal regulator type supply to the analog board (in place of the hp 6237B, part of a demonstration of simplicity) when I accidentally reversed the plus / minus connections. The power was only one for a minute or less, and by some miracle, the hand wired analog prototype board appears to have survived, not sure if there is minor damage or no damage. With the extreme range of acceptable voltages (6 V to 18 V), this PCB is definately getting a pair of reverse protection diodes at the power input connection points!
Project Documentation (very early stages)
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/notice of typos, etc. send email to joegeller @ gellerlabs dot com
COPYRIGHT © 2009, 2010 JOSEPH M. GELLER, All rights reserved.