Activity

A. GEOMAGNETISM

Our laboratory conducts studies on the temporal variations of the Earth's magnetic field and determines regional values for Turkey. Instantaneous changes in the magnetic field components H (horizontal), D (declination), and Z (vertical) are measured using a fluxgate variometer. Absolute measurements of H, Z, and F (total field) are performed with a proton magnetometer, while D and I (inclination) are measured using a D/I theodolite system equipped with a single-axis fluxgate magnetometer.

Absolute measurements are critical for determining the baseline values of observatories and require a high degree of precision. These measurements are performed at least twice a week. Our data recordings are aligned with international time standards.

Key activities in this area include:

• Measuring the Earth's magnetic field,
• Magnetic prospecting studies,
• Data sharing.

B. PALEOMAGNETISM

The Paleomagnetism Laboratory was established to support research on the geological evolution of the Earth's crust and geodynamic movements. It was founded under a protocol signed on April 7, 1973, between the Department of Geophysics at the Faculty of Mines, Istanbul Technical University (ITU), the Institute of Terrestrial Physics at ITU, and the Ministry of Education's Kandilli Observatory Directorate. According to the protocol, the laboratory was named the "KANTEK Paleomagnetism Laboratory."

The KANTEK Paleomagnetism Laboratory is currently equipped to conduct paleomagnetic research on igneous rocks. Its equipment includes:

• Two spinner magnetometers,
• One thermal demagnetizer,
• One alternating field demagnetizer,
• One susceptibility meter,
• One magnetic anisotropy meter,
• Core sampling tools,
• Stone-cutting instruments and equipment.