Welcome to the Kakioka Magnetic Observatory

     Routine geomagnetic observations in Japan began at Akasaka, Tokyo in 1883, during the First International Polar Year (1882-1883). The observatory moved to Kakioka, Ibaraki Prefecture in January 1913, and the observation has continued at the site to the present for more than years.

     The Kakioka Magnetic Observatory is in charge of geomagnetic and geoelectric observations and the relevant research as one of the Auxiliary Organs of the Japan Meteorological Agency. The Headquarters is in Kakioka, and two branches are located at Memambetsu, Hokkaido and Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture. We routinely observe geomagnetic field, earth current and atmospheric electricity at those observatories in cooperation with the observatories in the world. We are also operating an unmanned station at Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands.

     In 1973 the Kakioka Magnetic Observatory was designated as one of the four observatories in the world for calculating the Dst-index which represents the strength of the equatorial ring current encircling the earth. Furthermore the Kakioka Magnetic Observatory is a unique institute in Japan for the standardization and calibration of magnetic instruments.

     Along with these continuing observations, we have obtained excellent results in improvement of magnetic instruments and observation techniques, analysis of physical phenomena in the upper atmosphere, and study for the prediction of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Moreover we have cooperated with the national research project in the Antarctica; several members of the Kakioka Magnetic Observatory have taken part in the wintering parties of the Japan Antarctica Research Expedition to investigate the aurora and other geophysical phenomena in the upper atmosphere. Our data are used as important tools for the space weather forecast, making magnetic charts and other research.

Latitude (N) Longitude (E) Kakioka 36 ° 13 ’ 56 " 140 ° 11 ’ 11 " Memambetsu 43 ° 54 ’ 36 " 144 ° 11 ’ 19 " Kanoya 31 ° 25 ’ 27 " 130 ° 52 ’ 48 " Chichijima 27 ° 05 ’ 46 " 142 ° 11 ’ 06 " (Japanese Geodetic Datum 2000)

Memambetsu Branch Kanoya Branch

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