Student Aided Magnetic Mapping
Using Variations in Magnetic Field for Navigation
May 5th, 2023
Outline
- Why is a magnetic anomaly map needed
- What is magnetic anomaly
- How are magnetic maps made now
- How students contribute to science
- Targeted grades 8-10
- What students gain
- Paid milestone achievements
- Scientific contributor
- Science mentors near their age
- How to be involved
NASA (1976)
Why are
Magnetic anomaly Map needed
Pirates!
(
(GPS is not Always Reliable
It is too easy for bad actors (aka Pirates) to spoof GPS signals to divert cargo ships or airplanes. There are growing concerns that the shipping industry is vulnerable to GPS spoofing (Lo (2019))
GPS spoofing has the real risk of keeping ships at sea longer than necessary, or even causing ships to collide.
These same concerns are amplified in the aviation industry.
In addition, planes to worry about being tricked into flying into dangerous no fly zones.
GPS: Proceed for 10 more miles
(Choksi (2016))
Earth’s Magnetic Field
Endo (n.d.)
Earth’s Magnetic Field
Magnetic anomaly
The Earth’s Magnetic Field has variations do to field locked in it’s crust.
- These fields change very slowly
- Geologic Timescale (~20,000 year time scale)
USGS (2002)
Magnetic anomaly
Magnetic Fields
- Earth Field: 25,000nT - 65,000nT (nanotesla)
- Bar Magnet = 1,000,000nT (200X Earth Field)
- MRI’s: 1 Tesla (40,000X Earths Field)
Magnetic Anomaly
- \(\pm\) 500nT
Anomaly is much,
much smaller!
Why Higher Resolutions
Can you use this map to drive to the grocery store?
How a Magnetic Maps are Made Now
Maps are made using special equipped planes.
- It is a slow process and
- Data needs to be cleaned to remove the
plane’s magnetic field.
Nielsen (2023)
99 Weather Balloon
DALL-E (2023)
How Far can a balloon go?
Pico balloons can circumnavigate the world several times
Brown (2020)
Why do Students have
low STEM interest
Many students do not see the value nor the purpose of a STEM education.
Why no interest?
- STEM activities tend to be focused on a single aspect of a scientific field.
- Students do not shout out Eureka after seeing how many pennies an aluminum boat can hold. They simply record the number of pennies and wonder how this knowledge is useful in the real world.
- Few opportunities for students to see how scientists do experiments to make the world better.
- Few interactions with Scientist, especially in lower income brackets,
- One needs role models to help one visualize that this career can be for them.
- Don’t see how one can make a living doing science.
STEM Magnetic Mapping
This STEM project is designed to address these issues.
It involves multiple fields of science and engineering:
- Earth Science,
- Physical Science and
- Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
Integrated into a single project for students grades eight through ten.
It also rewards (via milestone achievements rewards: cash and/or prizes) for their work and their measurements supply scientists with information needed to make magnetic maps.
Lastly, students are guided by college student mentors in a STEM field so that they can see people close to their age going into this field.
Magnetic Mapping Flow
How to be involved
Looking for Ohio schools teachers to partner with to:
- Evaluate kits 2023-2024
Contact:
Evelyn J. Boettcher
Evelyn.boettcher@didactex.com
### Magnetic anomaly Mapping for Safer Navigation
References
