Comparative Performance Analysis of Five Magnetometers for Geomagnetic Monitoring

Area of Science:

• Geophysics and Space Physics
• Geomagnetic Field Monitoring

Background:

• Professional magnetometers are crucial for Earth's magnetic field studies but are costly.
• High cost limits spatial coverage, especially in remote areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance of five ground-based magnetometers.
• To evaluate noise, signal stability, and temperature effects on different magnetometer types.
• To assess the viability of low-cost sensors for geomagnetic observations.

Main Methods:

• Simultaneous deployment of five magnetometers at Universidad Adventista de Chile.
• Analysis of noise, signal stability, and response to geomagnetic variations.
• Evaluation of ambient temperature influence on instrument performance.
• Inter-instrument correlation analysis.

Main Results:

• Fluxgate and subsurface magnetometers demonstrated higher consistency and lower thermal sensitivity.
• Low-cost magneto-inductive sensors showed significant linear temperature dependence and temporal delays.
• Performance disparities and cost-reliability trade-offs were identified through correlation analyses.

Conclusions:

• Carefully deployed and calibrated low-cost magnetometers can complement professional-grade sensors.
• These sensors can enhance spatial coverage for valuable geomagnetic data collection.
• Viable for regions with infrastructure and logistical limitations.