THEMIS GroundBased Magnetometers

Authors: C T Russell P J Chi D J Dearborn Y S Ge B KuoTiong J D Means D R Pierce K M Rowe R C Snare

Publish Date: 2008/03/22

Volume: 141, Issue: 1-4, Pages: 389-412

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Abstract

The THEMIS mission includes a comprehensive groundbased measurement network that adds two additional dimensions to the information gained in the night magnetosphere by the five THEMIS spacecraft This network provides necessary correlative data on the strength and extent of events enables their onsets to be accurately timed and provides an educational component in which students have an active participation in the program This paper describes the magnetometers installed to obtain these groundbased North American magnetic measurements including the magnetometers installed as part of the educational effort and the support electronics provided by UCLA for the groundbased observatories These magnetometers measure the Earth’s magnetic field with high resolution and with precise timing provided by the Global Positioning System They represent UCLA’s next generation of lowcost groundbased magnetometers using an inexpensive personal computer for data collection storage and distribution These systems can be used in a standalone mode requiring only AC power If there is Internet connectivity they can be configured to provide near realtime data over the web These data are provided at full resolution to the entire scientific community over the web with minimal delay

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