The Korean Magnetic Observatory at King Sejong Station, King George Island, Antarctica

Abstract

The Korean Polar Research Institute established a geomagnetic observatory at their King Sejong Station on King George Island, Antarctica with equipment supplied by the US Geological Survey (USGS) Geomagnetism Program in 1991. Satellite transmission of the data to the Golden Gin began in 1991. An absolutes pillar and building were constructed in 1999 and absolute observations were made on an irregular basis. The raw data have never been processed to definitive form, so the observatory is, for the time being, considered a variations station only. With the intent of establishing the station as an Intermagnet observatory, a USGS Geomagnetism Program staff member visited the site in January 2006 and a USGS PC-based Data Collection platform (PCDCP) was installed. The PCDCP allows for real-time data transmission to the Golden Intermagnet Gin via the internet as well as GOES satellite transmission. The USGS has worked extensively with the observatory's 2005-2006 winter crew observer, focusing on equipment operation and absolute observations. Absolute observations and data transmission from the new equipment began in mid-January 2006. Data quality, baseline results and future operating plans of the observatory are presented in this paper.