Open AccessThe role of SANSA's geomagnetic observation network in space weather monitoring: A review
Author(s) -
Kotzé P. B.,
Cilliers P. J.,
Sutcliffe P. R.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
space weather
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.254
H-Index - 56
ISSN - 1542-7390
DOI - 10.1002/2015sw001279
Subject(s) - space weather , earth's magnetic field , geomagnetic storm , space (punctuation) , meteorology , environmental science , computer science , geography , physics , quantum mechanics , magnetic field , operating system
Geomagnetic observations play a crucial role in the monitoring of space weather events. In a modern society relying on the efficient functioning of its technology network such observations are important in order to determine the potential hazard for activities and infrastructure. Until recently, it was the perception that geomagnetic storms had no or very little adverse effect on radio communication and electric power infrastructure at middle‐ and low‐latitude regions like southern Africa. The 2003 Halloween storm changed this perception. In this paper we discuss the role of the geomagnetic observation network operated by the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) in space weather monitoring. The primary objective is to describe the geomagnetic data sets available to characterize and monitor the various types of solar‐driven disturbances, with the aim to better understand the physics of these processes in the near‐Earth space environment and to provide relevant space weather monitoring and prediction.