The STEL induction magnetometer network for observation of high-frequency geomagnetic pulsations

Abstract

The Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory (STEL) induction magnetometer network has been developed to investigate the propagation characteristics of high-frequency geomagnetic pulsations in the Pc1 frequency range (0.2-5 Hz). Five induction magnetometers were installed in the period 2005-2008 at Athabasca in Canada, Magadan and Paratunka in Far East Russia, and Moshiri and Sata in Japan. The sensitivity of these magnetometers is between 0.3 and 13 V/nT at turnover frequencies of 1.7-5.5 Hz. GPS time pulses are used for accurate triggering of the 64-Hz data sampling. We show examples of PiB/Pc1 magnetic pulsations observed at these five stations, as well as the harmonic structure of ionospheric Alfvén resonators observed at Moshiri. We found that the Pc1 packets are slightly modulated as they propagate from high to low latitudes in the ionospheric duct. These network observations are expected to contribute to our understanding of Pc1-range magnetic pulsations and their interaction with relativistic electrons by combining the obtained results with future satellite missions that observe radiation belt particles.