Exploring Geomagnetism and Space Weather
Learn what CEEE has to offer around Geomagnetism with resources about space weather, Earth’s magnetosphere, and the magnetic fields around you.
Earth’s magnetic field is constantly moving and changing, protecting Earth’s atmosphere from harmful solar winds. Magnetometer stations throughout the world are used to measure temporary changes in Earth’s magnetic field which can affect compasses and navigation systems. Your smartphone also contains a magnetometer which allows your phone to act like a compass but can also be used to measure magnetic fields. Using the CrowdMag app, you can explore the magnetic field around you, whether its affected by Earth’s magnetic field, iron-rich bedrock, or power lines nearby.
Start your exploration into Geomagnetism with CEEE videos, classroom lessons, lab activities, and more.
What is the CrowdMag app?
With the free CrowdMag mobile App, phones worldwide can send magnetometer data to a team of researchers at CIRES and NOAA. That data is then quality-checked and shared with the public as maps and charts. Our goals are:
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Build, grow, and foster a worldwide community of community/citizen scientists and enthusiasts collecting magnetic field data and sharing it to further our understanding of the Earth’s magnetic field.
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Develop magnetic models and maps using the data shared by CrowdMag users in combination with data collected by ships, aircraft, and satellites, to fill in the gaps in the professional mapping of Earth’s magnetic field.
Use your GPS-enabled device to contribute to scientific research! Install the CrowdMag app on your GPS-enabled smartphone or device and share your magnetic data with scientists. You can also view the maps and graphs shared by other community/citizen scientists.
CrowdMag is a citizen science project that uses your mobile phone. Created by the National Centers for Environmental Information, the CrowdMag app uses your phone's internal magnetometer to record magnetic fields as you move around outside. You can explore the data you collect and see if you can match up magnetic anomalies with objects in your environment. Learn more about Earth's magnetic fields from the NOAA Geomagnetism group.
