Measuring the effects of Space Weather in the UK using a network of school magnetometers

使用学校磁力计网络测量英国空间天气的影响

基本信息

批准号：
ST/M006565/1
负责人：
Ciaran Beggan
金额：
$ 1.27万
依托单位：
British Geological Survey
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2015
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2015 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FM006565%2F1
关键词：
Measuring effects Space Weather UK

项目摘要

We aim to (1) build a network of magnetic field sensors to be deployed in schools across the UK, to add to the small existing network from AuroraWatch at the University of Lancaster and (2) help expand citizen science capability for space weather researchers. This project relates to a number of STFC areas of science and technology: space science; instrumentation; physics of the planets and magnetosphere. It is intended to encourage students from 14 to 18 years old to look at how instruments can be used to collect data and integrate it together to give a wider understanding of physical phenomena. The proposed instrument involves learning that crosses several topical areas, such as electronics, computing and electromagnetism and links into the study of space from the planet's surface. It will also highlight the how remote processes on the Sun can affect the magnetic field of the Earth. The instrument is non-gender-specific so is suitable for all young people and anyone able to use a computer to run the sensor and visualise the data.This will be a pilot study to recruit schools and teachers around the UK to trial the use of a custom-built three-axis magnetometer with a Raspberry Pi computer. The schools will receive support from Lancaster University and BGS and we will also produce bespoke educational materials to begin with. The schools will feedback about their experiences running the instrument and how they use it in the teaching of curriculum, allowing us to improve the materials. All data measured will be available via a centralised website, allowing the schools to compare their data with others across the country. With the building of a network, open to both schools and citizen scientists, we hope to encourage students and teachers to think about the magnetic field and the physical processes involved.One of the reasons for doing this now is because, as a society, we are increasingly reliant on space-based technologies such as GPS and satellite communications. We have become more exposed to risks from Space Weather - primarily, the interaction between the Earth and the Sun's magnetic fields. Although the visible effects caused by Coronal Mass Ejections from the Sun are the aurorae observed during large geomagnetic storms, there are also invisible effects on the magnetic field that can recorded on the ground. The second aim of this project is to involve schools and other interested parties in making precise measurements of the magnetic field across the UK so researchers can understand these effects in more detail.Until recently, equipment with the required level of sensitivity needed to detect the variations of the magnetic field due to space weather (around ten parts in a million) has only been available to the scientific community. The costs have typically been on the order of several thousands of pounds for a set of dedicated instrumentation. However, with advances in technology, instruments of almost-scientific quality can now be built for around two hundred pounds. We have spent the past year testing a number of different magnetic sensors and developing new prototypes. On its own a single magnetic sensor (magnetometer) is not particularly useful, but tied into a UK-wide network of sensors, such a system can provide both an educational tool for physics, astronomy, geology and geography students and a means to participate in a scientific experiment to study the detailed variation of the magnetic field over the UK, particularly during a geomagnetic storm. The BGS runs three observatories in the UK, but these are located in an approximately straight line from Shetland to Devon. Additional instruments across the UK will help 'fill in the gaps' and provide longitudinal coverage in the UK, allowing more detailed maps of the magnetic field variation to be made.

我们的目标是（1）建立一个磁场传感器网络，该网络将在英国的学校中部署，以增加兰开斯特大学Aurorawatch的小型网络，（2）（2）帮助扩大公民科学能力，以实现太空天气研究人员的能力。该项目与许多STFC科学技术领域有关：太空科学；仪器；行星和磁层的物理学。它旨在鼓励14至18岁的学生研究如何使用工具来收集数据并将其集成在一起，以使对身体现象有更广泛的了解。所提出的仪器涉及学习跨越多个主题区域的学习，例如电子，计算和电磁学，并将其与地球表面的空间进行研究。它还将强调太阳上的远程过程如何影响地球的磁场。该乐器是非性别特定的，因此适合所有年轻人，并且任何能够使用计算机运行传感器并可视化数据的人。这将是一项试点研究，旨在招募英国各地的学校和教师试用使用Raspberry Pi计算机使用定制的三轴磁力计。这些学校将获得兰开斯特大学和BGS的支持，我们还将生产定制的教育材料。这些学校将反馈有关他们运行该乐器的经验以及如何在课程教学中使用它的经验，从而使我们能够改善材料。所有测量的数据将通过集中式网站获得，从而使学校可以将其数据与全国其他人进行比较。通过建立网络，向学校和公民科学家开放，我们希望鼓励学生和老师考虑磁场和所涉及的物理过程。现在这样做的原因之一是因为作为一个社会，我们越来越依赖于GPS和卫星通信等太空技术。我们已经变得更容易受到太空天气的风险 - 主要是地球与太阳磁场之间的相互作用。尽管在大型地磁风暴中观察到的冠状动脉弹出是由太阳弹出的可见作用，但对磁场也有看不见的作用，可以记录在地面上。该项目的第二个目的是让学校和其他感兴趣的政党对整个英国的磁场进行精确测量，以便研究人员可以更详细地了解这些效果。最近，直到有所需的敏感性水平的设备可以检测到由于空间天气而导致的磁场变化（大约十个部分中的十个部分），科学界仅可用。一组专用仪器的费用通常是数千英镑的订单。但是，随着技术的进步，现在可以建造几百磅的质量工具。在过去的一年中，我们已经测试了许多不同的磁性传感器并开发了新的原型。单个磁性传感器（磁力计）并不是特别有用，但是与英国范围内的传感器网络相关联，这样的系统可以为物理，天文学，地质学和地理专业的学生提供教育工具，以及参与科学实验的手段，以研究英国的详细磁场变化，尤其是在地球磁场期间。 BGS在英国经营三个观测站，但它们位于从设得兰群岛到德文郡的大约直线。英国各地的其他仪器将有助于“填补空白”，并在英国提供纵向覆盖范围，从而使磁场变化的更详细的地图。