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Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
Press Release
1 May 2006
For immediate Release
Issued by Kyushu University
Written by George N. Maeda
of the Space Environment Research Center (SERC)
Distribution to the following Japanese and Australian newspapers:
(faxed from Kyushu University, Main Administration)
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International Herald Tribune / Asahi Newspaper (Japan)
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Japan Times (Japan)
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Yomiuri (English edition, Japan)
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The Sydney Morning Herald (Fax +61-2-9282-3253, Australia)
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The New Australian (Fax: 03-3279-4987, Tokyo Bureau)
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Foreign Press Center Japan (Fax: 03-3501-3622, Tokyo)
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Australian Antarctic Division (Fax: +61-3-6232-3496, Australia)
Title:
Japanese university installs new magnetometer on Macquarie Island
The Space Environment Research Center (SERC) of Kyushu University (located in Fukuoka, Japan) in collaboration with Australia's AAD (Australian Antarctic Division) located in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia) successfully installed on 4 March 2006 a fluxgate magnetometer on Macquarie Island, which is a sub-Antarctic island located in the Southern Ocean between Tasmania and the Antarctic. The purpose of this scientific instrument is to log and report (in real-time via the Internet) very small changes in the Earth's magnetic field. This state-of-the-art instrument is one of 51 identical magnetometers being deployed around the world by SERC as Japan's most significant contribution to the International Heliophysical Year (IHY, 2007-2008). Each magnetometer is part of a global network called MAGDAS.
MAGDAS was conceived and developed by SERC, whose director is Professor Kiyohumi Yumoto. He is also the Project Leader of MAGDAS. Data from MAGDAS allows scientists to better understand the region of space between the Earth and the Sun. (This space is called "geospace.") IHY is a big, concerted push by the United Nations, NASA, and ESA, to expand man's understanding of the Sun-Earth system.
The attached color photograph shows Ms. Hiroko Kohta (a graduate student of Kyushu University), penguins, and an AAD helicopter hovering over the Aurora Australis, on Macquarie Island. Ms Kohta sailed from Hobart to Macquarie Island on this AAD research vessel, and installed the magnetometer.
End of Press Release text.
For additional information:
The person who wrote this press release (George N. Maeda) will be happy to respond to questions.
George N. Maeda is a member of the technical staff of SERC.
SERC is short for "Space Environment Research Center."
It is one research center of Kyushu University.
SERC's physical address is as follows:
Space Environment Research Center
Kyushu University
Hakozaki 6-10-1
Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan.
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