Yuzhmoregologia JSC (a subsidiary of Rosgeo) will help the Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IZMIRAN for short) to accomplish the fundamental task – to define the current coordinates of the magnetic South Pole using the marine proton precession magnetometer.
The research will be conducted on board of the Admiral Vladimirsky oceanographic research vessel, which sets out on a round-the-world voyage of the Russian Geographical Society, related to the two hundredth anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica by Russian researches Faddey Bellingshausen and Michail Lazarev.
Upon request of the St. Petersburg Department of IZMIRAN, Yuzhmorgeologia will provide the voyage with specialized equipment– a marine proton precession magnetometer designed for high-precision magnetometer measurements in the aggressive marine environment (the magnetometer will be towed at a distance overboard) to obtain data on the modulus of the Earth's full magnetic field vector.
A presumed location of the South Magnetic Pole is an extensive area off the coast of Antarctica in the d’Urville Sea to the south of Australia. The research will be conducted within the auroral zone, where powerful magnetic disturbances created by electric currents in the ionosphere and magnetosphere are recorded, which are also appear as bright polar auroras.
"The measurements made by the proton magnetometer in combination with the measurements by the component magnetometer designed by IZMIRAN and installed on board the vessel will help determine the dynamics and displacement path of the South Magnetic Pole," — explained Evgeny Grigoriev, the Head of the gravity and magnetic expedition of Yuzhmorgeologia. "Therefore, it will enhance safety and reliability of vessels and aircrafts navigation system, set up more precise operation of electronic maps and charts in gadgets, including the navigation satellite systems GPS and GLONASS.
"We are pleased to support colleagues and provide necessary equipment and field staff for addressing the crucial importance issues. Our specialists will also take part in the office analysis and interpretation of the data obtained through this expedition, will become co-authors of publications in the scientific periodicals and conference papers," — Egor Krasinsky, Managing Director of Yuzhmorgeologia.
