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A surface‐towed vector magnetometer
Author(s) -
Gee J. S.,
Cande S. C.
Publication year - 2002
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 - 10.1029/2002gl015245
Subject(s) - magnetometer , towing , geology , geodesy , amplitude , azimuth , vector field , magnetic anomaly , aeromagnetic survey , geophysics , magnetic field , remote sensing , seismology , physics , optics , marine engineering , mechanics , quantum mechanics , engineering
We have tested the feasibility of using a commercial motion sensor as a vector magnetometer that can be towed at normal survey speeds behind a research vessel. In contrast to previous studies using a shipboard mounted vector magnetometer, the towed system is essentially unaffected by the magnetization of the towing vessel. Results from a test deployment compare favorably with an earlier vector aeromagnetic survey, indicating that the towed instrument can resolve horizontal and vertical anomalies with amplitudes >30–50 nT. This instrument should be particularly useful in equatorial regions, where the vector anomalies are substantially greater than the corresponding total field anomalies.