Geo-electric measurements

Rapid variations of the geomagnetic field, caused by space weather, produce an electric field in the Earth's surface. This electric field is the source of electrical currents that can, for example, cause damage to transformers in the power grid and cause corrosion to pipelines.

The plots below show measurements made at BGS observatories to allow us to monitor this geo-electric field.

 

Latest measurements

Eskdalemuir

 

Lerwick

 

 

Hartland

 

Notes

• Data are updated every 10 minutes.
• Data are recorded at 10Hz at all three sites
• The electric data in the monthly plots are 1 minute averages
• The electric field data in the daily and 6 hour plots are 1 second averages
• dB/dt is calculated as the difference between the measurement now and the measurement 1 minute ago.