The magnetic observatory on Tatuoca, Belém, Brazil: history and recent developments

Abstract

The Tatuoca magnetic observatory (IAGA code: TTB) is located on a small island in the Amazonian delta in the state of Pará, Brazil. Its location close to the geomagnetic equator and within the South Atlantic Anomaly offers a high scientific return of the observatory's data. A joint effort by the National Observatory of Brazil (ON) and the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) was undertaken, starting from 2015 in order to modernise the observatory with the goal of joining the INTERMAGNET network and to provide real-time data access. In this paper, we will describe the history of the observatory, recent improvements, and plans for the near future. In addition, we will give some comments on absolute observations of the geomagnetic field near the geomagnetic equator.