Presented by Danie Gouws & Elda Saunderson

Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO)

As a Space Physics facility in Africa

The Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO) is a national facility under the National

Research Foundation of South Africa. The HMO is part of the worldwide network of

magnetic observatories and is responsible for research infrastructure and data used to

Main building Aerial photo depicting 16ha barrier

The HMO in a nutshell...

monitor the near Earth space

environment. The scope of its

activities include fundamental and

applied space physics research,

post-graduate student training,

science outreach, and the

provision of geomagnetic field

related services on a commercial

basis.

1932: Established as a Magnetic Observatory at

the University of Cape Town in response to

International Commission for the Polar Year

1941: Magnetic Observatory relocated to Hermanus

to escape the disturbing effects of the electric

railway system

Since 1941 HMO operated as a magnetic observatory under a variety of

semi-government institutions.

A Short History of the HMO

HMO is located 50 km from the Southern Tip of Africa!

Future: HMO will be transferring soon to the newly established

South African National Space Agency

• 4 INTERMAGNET magnetic observatories

• 30 secular variation stations in Southern Africa

• K, A indices

• Supplemented with Oersted & Champ satellite data

INTERMAGNET

Magnetic Observatory

HONSJG

HER

KAK

Generate magnetic models

Contribute to DST ring current index

Sampling rate

Currently: every 5 seconds, reduced to 1 min data

In future: sample at 10 Hz, reduced to 1 sec data

Pulsation magnetometers

Neutron monitors – Cosmic rays

Magnetic Observatory

Instrumentation

DI Fluxgate

FGE Fluxgate

dIdD

GSM-19 Overhauser

Space Physics Research

Studies of ULF waves using ground-based

and satellite data (e.g. CHAMP and Cluster)

Modeling of the lower ionosphere

using neural networks

Model

DN (Day Number)

UT (Universal Time)

ZA (Zenith Angle)

Ø (Geographic Latitude)

I (Magnetic Inclination)

D (Magnetic Declination)

A16 (Magnetic Index)

R2 (Solar Index)

M (Angle of Meridian)

foF2

hmF2

M3000

Ionospheric characterization using

dual frequency GPS observations

Theoretical studies

of waves in plasmas

SA ionosonde data published to the World Data Center

& used for local Space Weather research

Digisonde DPS-4D

Space Weather at the HMO

TransmitterReceiver

Ionosphere

Elevation

angle

Elevation

angle

Elevation

angle

Ionosonde and GPS locations in Southern Africa

• Ionospheric models (HF communications,

direction finding)

• Real-time total electron content (TEC)

International Space Environment Service (ISES)

http://spaceweather.hmo.ac.za

http://www.spaceweather.co.za

Regional Warning Center for

Space Weather in Africa

South African Earth Science Observatories

In the South Atlantic and Antarctic

Gough Island

Sep 2008Marion Island

April 2007

SANAE IV

72.0°S, 2.5°W

Des 2006 9

Hermanus

1941

South African Antarctic base

SANAE IV

SANAE

HALLEY

SANAE

HALLEY

HMO maintains an HF radar at Sanae, Antarctica,

which is paired with the British HF radar at Halley.

They form part of SuperDARN, an international

collaboration between 11 countries operating 16

HF radars in the auroral regions.

SUPERDARN HF Radar

SANAE IV, AntarcticaHF radar coverage, Antarctica

South African Antarctic base

SANAE IV

VLF Receiver

antenna

GPS & GISTM Receiver Antennas

(GPS Ionospheric scintillation and

total electron content monitoring)

Imaging Riometer

Space Weather instruments deployed and managed at SANAE:

- Overhauser absolute geomagnetic field magnetometer;

- Declination-Inclination (DI) observation station;

- FGE three-axis magnetometer;

- Overhauser proton magnetometer;

- GPS Ionospheric Scintillation and Total Electron Content Monitor (GISTM);

- ULTRAMSK and AWESOME narrowband VLF receivers;

- digital broadband VLF recording system, DVRAS;

- Automatic whistler detector (AWD);

- World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) node;

- Imaging and broad beam riometers;

- 2 low light auroral video cameras.

Instruments at SANAE

(Antarctica)

Marion island:GISTM and a ULTRAMSK VLF receiver

Gough island:GISTM (GPS Ionospheric scintillation and

total electron content monitoring) and GPS

receivers

South Atlantic Islands

GISTM

antenna

Magnetic Technology Services

Aircraft compass swing support for

manned and unmanned aircraft

Support industry with placement of

magnetic sensor on dynamic platforms

Calibration of mechanical and

electronic compasses and

magnetometers

Design and construction

of satellite orientation

magnetometer

Magnetic Evaluations

Magnetic shielding – Cryoperm 10

Large

Helmholtz

Coils

Specialised coil configurations

Shielding tests for SQUID

in cryocooler in

collaboration with the

University of Stellenbosch

Screening chamber:

Screening factor > 100 000

Support SA Navy with signature measurement and management

Ship’s magnetic field

Underwater measurement range

Multi-sensor underwater tripod

Submarine deperming facility

Science Outreach and Education

Honours Projects

MSc and PhD students on site

Summer & Winter Schools

Dedicated Science Centre for

educators and learners

Thank you