CSIR-NGRI

Geomagnetism

The Earth’s magnetic field envelopes the planet in a protective shield, extending to several Earth radii, which prevents cosmic particles and energy from destroying our atmosphere and the Earth’s surface. This field is in a continuous state of flux; the spatio-temporal changes of this field are monitored by a few hundred magnetic observatories all over the continents. Over the last several decades satellite missions have also measured this field from space.

The magnetic observatory (HYB) of NGRI was commissioned in 1964, just three years after the establishment of the Institute. The observatory has completed 60 years this year. As part of the global INTERMAGNET observatory network, it provides 1 minute and 1 second three component variation data (near real time) as well as absolute baselines (annually). Additional observation sites have been set up in Kanyakumari, Lakshadweep and Andaman-Nicobar, Kumaun Himalaya and Ladakh.

Research Focus

Characteristics of equatorial and low latitude geomagnetic field: linkages between Sq, EEJ, CEJ, solar and lunar tides
Storm time signatures in equatorial and low latitude geomagnetic field and potential hazard evaluation
Geomagnetic secular variations and geomagnetic jerks in equatorial and low latitude regions in the Indian sector from ground and satellite data
Pre-earthquake signatures in electromagnetic data in seismogenic regions of India
Regional magnetic anomaly patterns from satellite data, with emphasis over the western continental margin of India