Lerwick Observatory

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Lerwick Observatory
Alternative namesLerwick Observatory OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Organization
Location Lerwick, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom
Coordinates 60°08′17″N1°10′56″W / 60.13816°N 1.18219°W / 60.13816; -1.18219
United Kingdom relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of Lerwick Observatory

Lerwick Observatory (also known as Lerwick Magnetic Observatory) is a British meteorological observatory located near the port of Lerwick, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom. Along with Eskdalemuir and Hartland, Lerwick is one of three permanent geomagnetic observatories in the United Kingdom and is operated by the Met Office. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The Norwegian government requested that the British establish a meteorological observatory in the Shetland Islands, after Roald Amundsen expressed a desire to compare notes on the Aurora Borealis he observed during his expedition in 1920. [3] The observatory was opened by Arthur Crichton Mitchell on the of 7th June 1921. [4]

Atmospheric observations

The Lerwick Observatory indeed is a captivating place, nestled in the scenic Shetland Islands of Scotland. Here, scientists have conducted groundbreaking research on atmospheric electricity, cosmic rays, cloud properties, geomagnetic activity, and space weather forecasting.

Established in 1921, the Lerwick Observatory quickly became a hub for measuring atmospheric electricity and studying meteorological and auroral phenomena. For nearly six decades, researchers recorded the hourly potential gradient (PG) measurements, providing valuable data on atmospheric electrical changes. These measurements were made in a clean environment, making them even more valuable for studying these changes. [4]

One exciting discovery made at the Lerwick Observatory is that there is a connection between the PG data and Pacific Ocean temperature anomalies. This finding has sparked international interest and offers insights into the complex relationship between atmospheric electricity and climate dynamics.

PG data from Lerwick has also demonstrated the effects of nuclear weapon detonations on the atmospheric electric environment. [4]

The Lerwick Observatory has also contributed to our understanding of the cosmic rays and cloud properties. [5] Researchers found that cloud base height distributions for low clouds vary with cosmic ray conditions. The global atmospheric electrical circuit can be influenced by cosmic rays, which have the potential to affect cloud properties, revealing the complex interaction between cosmic phenomena and our atmosphere.

Furthermore, the observatory's measurements have shed light on the relationship between the global electric circuit and electrified cloud parameters. [6] They found that during El Niño periods, there was an increase in electric fields compared to La Niña or neutral phases in sea surface temperature.

The Lerwick Observatory's research has also enhanced our understanding of the geomagnetic activity. [7] By comparing their data to another observatory, scientists discovered instrument-related inhomogeneities that affected the long-term trend of geomagnetic activity and the evolution of interplanetary magnetic field strength and solar wind speed.

So, the Lerwick Observatory has been a vital centre for scientific exploration. Through their long-term measurements, scientists have gained valuable insights into atmospheric electricity, cosmic rays, cloud properties, geomagnetic activity, and space weather forecasting. Their findings contribute to our understanding of these phenomena and their connections to our environment.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geophysics</span> Physics of the Earth and its vicinity

Geophysics is a subject of natural science concerned with the physical processes and physical properties of the Earth and its surrounding space environment, and the use of quantitative methods for their analysis. Geophysicists, who usually study geophysics, physics, or one of the Earth sciences at the graduate level, complete investigations across a wide range of scientific disciplines. The term geophysics classically refers to solid earth applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational, magnetic fields, and electromagnetic fields ; its internal structure and composition; its dynamics and their surface expression in plate tectonics, the generation of magmas, volcanism and rock formation. However, modern geophysics organizations and pure scientists use a broader definition that includes the water cycle including snow and ice; fluid dynamics of the oceans and the atmosphere; electricity and magnetism in the ionosphere and magnetosphere and solar-terrestrial physics; and analogous problems associated with the Moon and other planets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Observatory</span> Location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events

An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysics, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space weather</span> Branch of space physics and aeronomy

Space weather is a branch of space physics and aeronomy, or heliophysics, concerned with the varying conditions within the Solar System and its heliosphere. This includes the effects of the solar wind, especially on the Earth's magnetosphere, ionosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. Though physically distinct, space weather is analogous to the terrestrial weather of Earth's atmosphere. The term "space weather" was first used in the 1950s and popularized in the 1990s. Later, it prompted research into "space climate", the large-scale and long-term patterns of space weather.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geomagnetic storm</span> Disturbance of the Earths magnetosphere

A geomagnetic storm, also known as a magnetic storm, is a temporary disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere caused by a solar wind shock wave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Met Office</span> United Kingdoms national weather service

The Meteorological Office, abbreviated as the Met Office, is the United Kingdom's national weather and climate service. It is an executive agency and trading fund of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and is led by CEO Penelope Endersby, who took on the role as Chief Executive in December 2018 and is the first woman to do so. The Met Office makes meteorological predictions across all timescales from weather forecasts to climate change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eskdalemuir Observatory</span> Observatory in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK

The Eskdalemuir Observatory is a UK national environmental observatory located near Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Along with Lerwick and Hartland, Eskdalemuir is one of three permanent geomagnetic observatories in the United Kingdom.

This is a list of meteorology topics. The terms relate to meteorology, the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atmospheric electricity</span> Electricity in planetary atmospheres

Atmospheric electricity describes the electrical charges in the Earth's atmosphere. The movement of charge between the Earth's surface, the atmosphere, and the ionosphere is known as the global atmospheric electrical circuit. Atmospheric electricity is an interdisciplinary topic with a long history, involving concepts from electrostatics, atmospheric physics, meteorology and Earth science.

Ernest Harry Vestine was an American geophysicist and meteorologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heliophysics</span> Science of the heliosphere

Heliophysics is the physics of the Sun and its connection with the Solar System. NASA defines heliophysics as "(1) the comprehensive new term for the science of the Sun - Solar System Connection, (2) the exploration, discovery, and understanding of Earth's space environment, and (3) the system science that unites all of the linked phenomena in the region of the cosmos influenced by a star like our Sun."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global atmospheric electrical circuit</span> Continuous movement of atmospheric charge carriers between an upper conductive layer and surface

A global atmospheric electrical circuit is the continuous movement of atmospheric charge carriers, such as ions, between an upper conductive layer and surface. The global circuit concept is closely related to atmospheric electricity, but not all atmospheres necessarily have a global electric circuit. The basic concept of a global circuit is that through the balance of thunderstorms and fair weather, the atmosphere is subject to a continual and substantial electrical current.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Observatory</span> Private house and former observatory near Kew, Richmond, London

The King's Observatory is a Grade I listed building in Richmond, London. Now a private dwelling, it formerly housed an astronomical and terrestrial magnetic observatory founded by King George III. The architect was Sir William Chambers; his design of the King's Observatory influenced the architecture of two Irish observatories – Armagh Observatory and Dunsink Observatory near Dublin.

Colaba Observatory, also known as the Bombay Observatory, was an astronomical, timekeeping, geomagnetic and meteorological observatory located on the Island of Colaba, Mumbai (Bombay), India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar cycle 9</span> Solar activity from July 1843 to December 1855

Solar cycle 9 was the ninth solar cycle since 1755, when extensive recording of solar sunspot activity began. The solar cycle lasted 12.4 years, beginning in July 1843 and ending in December 1855. The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed during the solar cycle was 219.9, and the starting minimum was 17.6. During the solar cycle minimum transit from solar cycle 9 to solar cycle 10, there were a total of 655 days with no sunspots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of geophysics</span> Topics in the physics of the Earth and its vicinity

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to geophysics:

In the height region between about 85 and 200 km altitude on Earth, the ionospheric plasma is electrically conducting. Atmospheric tidal winds due to differential solar heating or due to gravitational lunar forcing move the ionospheric plasma against the geomagnetic field lines thus generating electric fields and currents just like a dynamo coil moving against magnetic field lines. That region is therefore called ionospheric dynamo region. The magnetic manifestation of these electric currents on the ground can be observed during magnetospheric quiet conditions. They are called Sq-variations and L-variations (L=lunar) of the geomagnetic field. Additional electric currents are generated by the varying magnetospheric electric convection field. These are the DP1-currents and the polar DP2-currents. Finally, a polar-ring current has been derived from the observations which depends on the polarity of the interplanetary magnetic field. These geomagnetic variations belong to the so-called external part of the geomagnetic field. Their amplitudes reach at most about 1% of the main internal geomagnetic field Bo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar phenomena</span> Natural phenomena within the Suns atmosphere

Solar phenomena are natural phenomena which occur within the atmosphere of the Sun. They take many forms, including solar wind, radio wave flux, solar flares, coronal mass ejections, coronal heating and sunspots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space climate</span> Branch of solar physics and aeronomy

Space climate is the long-term variation in solar activity within the heliosphere, including the solar wind, the Interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), and their effects in the near-Earth environment, including the magnetosphere of Earth and the ionosphere, the upper and lower atmosphere, climate, and other related systems. The scientific study of space climate is an interdisciplinary field of space physics, solar physics, heliophysics, and geophysics. It is thus conceptually related to terrestrial climatology, and its effects on the atmosphere of Earth are considered in climate science.

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References

  1. "Lerwick Magnetic Observatory". British Geological Survey . Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  2. Thomson, Alan W. P. "Geomagnetic Observatories: Monitoring the Earth's Magnetic and Space Weather Environment" (PDF). British Geological Survey . Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  3. Bennett, Daniel (3 June 2020). "The story of weather watching in Shetland". BBC News . Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Harrison, R. Giles; Riddick, John C. (8 August 2022). "Atmospheric electricity observations at Lerwick Geophysical Observatory". History of Geo- and Space Sciences. 13 (2): 133–146. doi: 10.5194/hgss-13-133-2022 . ISSN   2190-5010.
  5. Harrison, R. Giles; Ambaum, Maarten H. P.; Lockwood, Michael (8 October 2011). "Cloud base height and cosmic rays". Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 467 (2134): 2777–2791. doi: 10.1098/rspa.2011.0040 . ISSN   1364-5021.
  6. Lavigne, Thomas; Liu, Chuntao; Deierling, Wiebke; Mach, Douglas (27 August 2017). "Relationship between the global electric circuit and electrified cloud parameters at diurnal, seasonal, and interannual timescales". Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. 122 (16): 8525–8542. doi:10.1002/2016JD026442. ISSN   2169-897X.
  7. Holappa, L.; Mursula, K. (October 2015). "Toward more reliable long-term indices of geomagnetic activity: Correcting a new inhomogeneity problem in early geomagnetic data: ESKDALEMUIR DATA". Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. 120 (10): 8288–8297. doi: 10.1002/2015JA021752 .