Methodology · Magnetometry

Satellite magnetometry

Measures Earth's geomagnetic field from orbit using vector and absolute-scalar magnetometers together, as in the Swarm mission class.

How it works

Satellite magnetometry measures the geomagnetic field rather than reflected or emitted radiation. A vector magnetometer records field components while an absolute scalar magnetometer stabilises and calibrates the field magnitude; together they form one orbital field-measurement method. The method supports separation of core, lithospheric, and external magnetic-field contributions. For mineral exploration it is a context layer for lithospheric magnetic anomalies and crustal structure, not a direct mineral-identification method and not a separate mineral-specific methodology.

Topics this serves

Topic

Fit

Geology and geohazardsadequate

lithospheric-magnetic-structure

Mineral explorationadequate

lithospheric-anomaly-context

Existing implementations

Demonstrated

Swarm Vector Field Magnetometer via Swarm
VFM is the Swarm vector magnetic-field instrument and implements satellite magnetometry as part of the mission magnetic package.
Swarm Absolute Scalar Magnetometer via Swarm
ASM supplies absolute scalar magnetic-field measurements for VFM calibration and implements the scalar half of the satellite magnetometry package.
DSCOVR Magnetometer (MAG) via DSCOVR
DSCOVR MAG measures interplanetary magnetic field for space-weather monitoring.
GOES-R Magnetometer via GOES-16
GOES-R MAG monitors local geomagnetic field conditions at geostationary orbit.

Capable, undemonstrated

None on record.

Sources

[1]Swarm mission, ESA Earth Onlineagency doc2026-06-08Swarm mission overview: constellation, VFM/ASM instruments, orbit configuration, and magnetic-field science objectives.
[2]Swarm new generation of sensors, ESAagency doc2026-06-08Describes Absolute Scalar Magnetometer and Vector Field Magnetometer roles, including scalar calibration of the vector magnetometer.
[3]A Comprehensive Model of Earth's Magnetic Field Determined from 4 Years of Swarm Observationspeer reviewed2026-06-08Peer-reviewed CHAOS model paper using Swarm observations to separate core, lithospheric, and external magnetic-field contributions.

Methodology

Edited from public sources by SpectraWorks editorial. See the data dictionary for field definitions.

Cite or share

https://eo-atlas.org/topics/methodologies/satellite-magnetometry

Markdown twin →

How to cite this page

Plain text

Satellite magnetometry. EO-Atlas, SpectraWorks B.V. https://eo-atlas.org/topics/methodologies/satellite-magnetometry (CC BY 4.0)

BibTeX

@misc{eoatlas:topics:methodologies:satellite-magnetometry,
  title = {Satellite magnetometry},
  author = {{EO-Atlas}},
  publisher = {SpectraWorks B.V.},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
  url = {https://eo-atlas.org/topics/methodologies/satellite-magnetometry}
}