Comparing Magsat, Ørsted and CHAMP crustal Magnetic Anomaly Data over the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly, Russia

Abstract

Prior to the launch of Magsat, it was not obvious that a satellite altitude magnetometer mission would record crustal magnetic fields, despite the POGO and COSMOS-49 results. Subsequent studies, however, soon revealed that Magsat was able to map crustal magnetic anomalies. One of these investigations was centered on the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly (KMA) of Russia. Not only did this earlier Magsat study of the KMA record its magnetic signature at satellite altitude but also it was revealed that the anomaly displayed a significant component of remanent magnetization. With the subsequent launch of the higher altitude Orsted satellite a comparison between the KMA and these newer magnetic anomaly data was made. It was determined that Orsted could indeed record the crustal magnetic field and with a greater signal/noise ratio than Magsat since at a higher altitude the spacecraft was further from the ionosphere. It is not surprising, therefore, that after the successful launch of CHAMP we continued our initial study of the crustal anomaly field over the KMA with these newer magnetic observations. The KMA appears to be well represented in these CHAMP data as well.