Data, Products, Services
IAGA provides several tools and standards, which are obtained within its Divisions and Working Groups. IAGA encourages and promotes global data exchange activities.
1. Tools
International Geomagnetic Reference Field IGRF
This global main field model provides magnetic field values for any location on Earth, e.g. for navigational purposes (declination) or as a standard for core field subtraction for aeromagnetic surveys. An updated version is adopted by IAGA every 5 years. The model, software and an online-calculator are provided by working group V-MOD.
Free software tools on INTERMAGNET
INTERMAGNET offers software tools for data manipulation by the geomagnetic community.
IAGA endorsed indices of magnetic activity
Magnetic indices describe the activity level of external magnetic fields. IAGA endorsed indices follow strict quality standards defined by working group V-DAT. They are disseminated by the International Service of Geomagnetic Indices, ISGI, and derived by the ISGI Collaborating Institutes. More information on currently endorsed IAGA indices, like e.g. Kp and Dst, can also be found at the working group V-DAT website. Adoption of new indices endorsed by IAGA is done according to the Index Criteria for endorsement of indices by IAGA.
World Digital Magnetic Anomaly Map WDMAM
The first digital and global map of lithospheric magnetic anomalies was obtained through the efforts of an IAGA task group and released in 2007. Information about the map and ongoing efforts on updates can be found on the website of working group V-MOD.
2. Standards
Geomagnetic observatories
IAGA coordinates the global network of geomagnetic observatories by providing unique three-letter codes and maintaining an overview over past and present geomagnetic observatories. The list can be found at the website of working group V-OBS.
Observatory data
IAGA recommends formats for observatory data exchange and provides information about observatory data availability. The information can be found on the website of working group V-DAT.
Advice on gyromagnetic constant
Proton precession and Overhauser magnetometers are common instruments for measuring the geomagnetic field. To ensure a common standard, IAGA recommends the use of the most recent value of the gyromagnetic constant for geomagnetic observations.
3. Global data availability
INTERMAGNET
The INTERMAGNET programme exists to establish a global network of cooperating digital magnetic observatories, adopting modern standard specifications for measuring and recording equipment, in order to facilitate data exchanges and the production of geomagnetic products in close to real time. At INTERMAGNET you can find data and information from geomagnetic observatories around the world.
Palaeomagnetic, archaeomagnetic and historical databases
The Magnetics Information Consortium (MagIC) maintains an open community digital data archive for rock and paleomagnetic data with portals that allow users access to archive, search, visualize, and download these data at levels ranging form raw measurements to interpretations. MagIC supports the international rock and paleomagnetic communities and endeavors to bring data out of private archives, making them accessible to all and (re-)useable for new, creative, collaborative scientific and educational activities.
The PINT database provides a searchable catalogue of published absolute palaeomagnetic intensity data from rocks older than 50,000 years, together with associated meta-data (location, dating, palaeomagnetic directional data, etc) and publication details. PINT is updated every 1-5 years and is currently (2019) in the process of being upgraded to include QPI palaeointensity reliability criteria.
PALEOMAGIA is a database of global Precambrian paleomagnetic directional data. Besides directions and poles, it includes isotopic age references and links to original publications where available, and allows convenient export of data in various formats. PALEOMAGIA is hosted by University of Helsinki, Finland.
GEOMAGIA50 is an international collaboration that provides easy access to published archaeomagnetic/volcanic/sediment palaeomagnetic data for the past 50 ka. Users can search and download data from the database from the web interface.
HISTMAG is based on available global compilations of historical, archeomagnetic and volcanic data. For central Europe, new historical and archaeomagnetic records have been acquired and included. The main focus is set on the maintenance and extension of historical records in the course of future database updates.
