The United Kingdom Geomagnetic Observatory Network : disseminating one-second data in near real-time

As the cost of processing power, data storage and communications have fallen, it has become increasingly viable to sample, store and transmit data at rates higher than the INTERMAGNET recommended standard of one-minute. The British Geological Survey (BGS) has completed an upgrade programme of its three United Kingdom geomagnetic observatories, in addition to those operated in the Falkland Islands and Ascension Island, to one-second data capture with near real-time communication. By fully automating the observatory recording equipment and data transmission to the processing centre, BGS has a reliable geomagnetic observatory network capable of meeting the current and predicted scientific and commercial demands for United Kingdom observatory data.