Ethiopia Commissions GNSS Station and Magnetometer at Entoto Observatory
Ethiopia’s Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI) has successfully commissioned a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiving station and a magnetometer at the Entoto Observatory and Research Center near Addis Ababa. This project was developed with the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and marks an important milestone for Ethiopia’s contributions to global space research, particularly in space weather monitoring and Earth’s magnetic field analysis. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Innovation and Technology made the announcement.
Enhancing Space Weather Monitoring
The newly operational GNSS receiver station is equipped to capture signals from various satellite navigation systems, including GPS and similar services. This capability enables precise positioning and timing information, which is crucial for applications such as geophysical surveys, earthquake monitoring, and climate studies. Additionally, the magnetometer measures Earth’s magnetic field fluctuations, providing valuable data for understanding geomagnetic phenomena and their potential impacts on satellite communications and navigation systems.
The installation’s location (Addis Ababa) is strategic since the area lies along the Earth’s Magnetic Equator. This is critical because space weather experts can better monitor and study ionospheric disturbances. This will improve space weather forecasting and enhance the accuracy of satellite navigation systems, crucial to areas like aviation, maritime operations, and emergency services. Additionally, the placement of the magnetometer on Mount Entoto will enhance Ethiopia’s possibility of becoming part of the global magnetometer network.
The commissioning of the GNSS and magnetometer in Ethiopia is a significant step in bridging the huge infrastructure gap in Africa’s space weather monitoring. This project will play a key role in improving the region’s capabilities and contributing to the global scientific community. South Africa has been continuously critical in space weather research and monitoring in Africa. This has primarily been through its fully operational Space Weather Centre that monitors the Sun and its activity, providing space weather forecasts, issuing warnings and alerts, and delivering environmental data on space weather conditions to government and private-industry users across Africa.