Historical Database of Geomagnetic and Auroral Activity for the Study of Solar–Terrestrial Relationships

Abstract

In situ data on geomagnetic and auroral activity obtained in recent years has contributed to a greater understanding of solar–terrestrial processes. However, because space exploration began only in the middle of the 20th century, in situ data are insufficient to analyze geomagnetic variations and solar-activity variations on a time scale from decades to centuries. The Russian network of magnetic and meteorological observatories provides one of the longest data series. For example, the magnetograms from St. Petersburg (SPE), Pavlovsk (SLU), and Voeikovo (LNN) stations provide long series of continuous records of variations of declination (D) and horizontal (H) and vertical (Z) components of the geomagnetic field. The aim of this paper is to make this data publicly available. For this purpose, a specialized database has been developed for the study of various aspects of solar–terrestrial relationships, including heliobiomagnetology. The database contains (1) digital images of analog magnetograms from SPE (1869–1877) and SLU (1878–1921, images for 1921–1941 are still being scanned), (2) hourly values of declination D and horizontal H and vertical Z components of the geomagnetic field obtained at SPE and SLU stations for 1869–1914, (3) data on geomagnetic storms from the SLU station for 1878–1941 and from the LNN station for 1947–1954, and (4) data on aurora borealis observed at 141 stations of the Russian Meteorological Network for 1837–1909. The database is designed to provide online access to the Russian collection of historical data on geomagnetic and auroral activity. On this basis, it is possible to carry out research on various aspects of space weather and climate and use it, among other things, to solve problems of heliomagnetobiology. Users are provided with easy access to individual magnetograms at different zoom levels. Online access will allow a wide range of researchers to use these databases to solve problems related to historical space weather data.