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Swarm 's absolute magnetometer experimental vector mode, an innovative capability for space magnetometry
Author(s) -
Hulot Gauthier,
Vigneron Pierre,
Léger JeanMichel,
Fratter Isabelle,
Olsen Nils,
Jager Thomas,
Bertrand François,
Brocco Laura,
Sirol Olivier,
Lalanne Xavier,
Boness Axel,
Cattin Viviane
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2014gl062700
Subject(s) - magnetometer , earth's magnetic field , scalar (mathematics) , physics , geodesy , computer science , remote sensing , magnetic field , mathematics , geology , geometry , quantum mechanics
European Space Agency's Swarm satellites carry a new generation of 4 He absolute magnetometers (ASM), designed by CEA‐Léti and developed in partnership with Centre National d'Études Spatiales. These instruments are the first ever spaceborne magnetometers to use a common sensor to simultaneously deliver 1 Hz independent absolute scalar and vector readings of the magnetic field. Since launch, these ASMs provided very high‐accuracy scalar field data, as nominally required for the mission, together with experimental vector field data. Here we compare geomagnetic field models built from such ASM‐only data with models built from the mission's nominal 1 Hz data, combining ASM scalar data with independent fluxgate magnetometer vector data. The high level of agreement between these models demonstrates the potential of the ASM's vector mode for data quality control and as a stand‐alone magnetometer and illustrates the way the evolution of key field features can easily be monitored from space with such absolute vector magnetometers.