Exploring Earth's Magnetic Field from Space: Challenges and Opportunities

Over the past 25 years, satellite observations have revolutionised our understanding of Earth’s magnetic field. The pioneering Ørsted and CHAMP satellite missions marked the beginning of continuous magnetic field monitoring from space, offering invaluable insights into Earth’s interior and its geospace environment. Building on these missions, the Swarm satellite trio, launched in 2013, introduced simultaneous measurements from nearby spacecraft, enabling improved separation of the various magnetic sources.

The field continues to advance with the launch of the first "Macau Science Satellite" (MSS-1) in May 2023, operating in a low-inclination orbit, and the forthcoming NanoMagSat constellation that is currently in preparation. These missions present exciting opportunities to address longstanding scientific questions and explore new frontiers in geomagnetic research.

This talk will highlight the scientific challenges of utilising satellite magnetic data to investigate Earth’s magnetic field, from disentangling overlapping sources to advancing data interpretation techniques. It will also explore the opportunities offered by current and upcoming missions, emphasizing their potential to enhance our understanding of Earth’s interior dynamics, magnetospheric processes, and geospace interactions.