This work focuses on creating maps of the geomagnetic field and areas of increased cosmic radiation surrounding the Earth. Data were measured by Proba-V satellite at Low-Earth orbit 820 kilometres above the Earth during 2015. The actual measured data were compared with the calculated magnetic values. The created maps serve to a better understanding of the shape of the geomagnetic field and show magnetic equator, north magnetic pole and more. The map confirms that the area of the South Atlantic Anomaly corresponds with the weakest area of the geomagnetic field. Maps of different time periods of 2015 show small changes in the shape of the geomagnetic field during a year. Increased attention was paid to June 2015, when solar flares were passing near the Earth. The observation confirms that solar flares have a significant effect on the shape of the geomagnetic field.

This work focuses on creating maps of the geomagnetic field and areas of increased cosmic radiation around the Earth. These areas must be mapped for a safe operation of satellites and to maintain the health of the crews on the International Space Station. This work was created in cooperation with the Institute of Technical and Experimental Physics at CTU which provided data measured by the Proba-V satellite in 2015. Proba-V is an ESA satellite with an almost circular trajectory at an altitude of about 810 km. One of the outcomes of this work are maps of the geomagnetic field distribution in the flight level of the satellite. The overall distribution of the geomagnetic field is shown by maps of the magnetic induction magnitude. Magnetic induction attains the lowest values ​​in the area above the South Atlantic and South America and the highest values ​​in the area south of Australia which is the area of ​​the North Magnetic Pole. Other maps show the positions of the magnetic equator and the parallels. Geomagnetic field distribution maps for the individual months of 2015 show that the field has the same shape during the year. Another result was the mapping of areas of an increased number of charged particles around the Earth. These maps clearly show the position of the so-called South Atlantic anomaly and radiation belts around the magnetic poles. A comparison of geomagnetic and radiological maps showed that the area of ​​the South Atlantic anomaly corresponds to the area of ​​the lowest values ​​of magnetic induction. The radiation bands around the poles copy the shape of the magnetic parallels. More focus was directed on the period around June 22, 2015, when a larger solar flare was observed around the Earth. The results of the measurements showed that at the time of the eruption, the number of charged particles around the Earth increased considerably and also that the areas where these particles accumulate significantly increased. Geomagnetic field distribution maps for the individual months of 2015 show that the field has the same shape during the year. Another result was the mapping of areas of an increased number of charged particles around the Earth. These maps clearly show the position of the so-called South Atlantic anomaly and radiation belts around the magnetic poles. A comparison of geomagnetic and radiological maps showed that the area of the South Atlantic anomaly corresponds to the area of the lowest values of magnetic induction. The radiation bands around the poles copy the shape of the magnetic parallels. More focus was directed on the period around June 22, 2015, when a larger solar flare was observed around the Earth. The results of the measurements showed that at the time of the eruption, the number of charged particles around the Earth increased considerably and also that the areas where these particles accumulate significantly increased.

Jan Jurica, is a student of the master's degree in Cybernetics and Robotics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague (FEE CTU). He prepared this work during the senior year of the grammar school within Student Professional Activities - SPA (Středoškolská odborná činnost - SOC) competition in cooperation with the Institute of Technical and Experimental Physics (ITEP) of CTU. His work earned him second place in the SPA national round in the field of physics and the Jaroslav Heyrovsky Endowment Fund Award. Since 2015, he has been one of the coordinators of a non-profit project for talented youth called Expedition Mars, which gives participants the opportunity to try a simulated flight to Mars.

J. ASB Soc., 2020, 1(1), 22-29

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51337/JASB20201228003

Jurica – BibTEX file