Abstract
Solar-terrestrial physics research in Australia began in 1792 when de Rossel measured the southern hemisphere geomagnetic field at Recherche Bay on the southern tip of Tasmania, proving the field magnitude and direction varied with latitude. This was the time when the French and British were competing to chart and explore the new world. From the early twentieth century Australian solar-terrestrial physics research concentrated on radio wave propagation and communication, which by the 1950s fed into the International Geophysical Year in the areas of atmosphere and ionosphere physics, and geomagnetism, with some concentration on Antarctic research. This was also the era of increased studies of solar activity and the discovery of the magnetosphere and the beginning of the space age. In the 1960s, Australia became a world leader in solar physics which led to radio astronomy discoveries. This paper outlines the historical development of solar-terrestrial physics in Australia and its international connections over the years and concludes with examples of specific research areas where Australia has excelled.
Highlights
Australia, being an isolated and relatively newly discovered continent, does not experience the advantages or disadvantages of Europe which is steeped in history
The structure of research science management in Australia following the establishment of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Australian Radio Research Board (ARRB) remained stable up until the end of World War II, when in 1949 the CSIR became the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) with a Division of Radiophysics absorbing the University of Sydney’s Radio Physics Laboratory (RPL)
Over more than one century beginning in the late 1800’s, Australia has exhibited a rich history of achievement in solar-terrestrial physics, ranging from simple geomagnetic measurements to sophisticated radars and satellite payloads
Summary
Australia, being an isolated and relatively newly discovered continent, does not experience the advantages or disadvantages of Europe which is steeped in history. A fuller account of radio science and ionospheric research in the British Empire between the two world wars is included in Anduaga (2009). The Australian Federal Government established the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1926 (White and Huxley 1975) and provided significant support funding.
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