Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This work discusses the design of a 3-axis Geomagnetometer SQUID System (GSS), in which HTS SQUIDs are used unshielded. The initial GSS installed at SANSA was fully operable, however the LN2 evaporation rate and SQUID orientation required improving. Magnetic shields were also developed in case the SQUIDs would not operate unshielded and to test the system noise with geomagnetic variations removed. To enable removing the double layer shield from the probes while the SQUIDs remain submerged in LN2, the shield was designed to disassemble. The shields proved to be effective, however due to icing the shields could not be removed without removing the SQUIDs from the LN2. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie werk bespreek die ontwerp van 'n 3-as Geomagnetometer SQUID Sisteem (GSS), waarin HTS SQUIDs sonder magnetiese skilde aangedryf word. Die aanvanklike GSS geïnstalleer by SANSA was ten volle binnewerking, maar die LN2 verdamping en SQUID oriëntasie benodig verbetering. Magnetiese skilde was ook ontwikkel vir die geval dat die SQUIDs nie sonder skilde wou werk nie en om die ruis te toets na geomagnetiese variasies verwyder is. Die dubbele laag skild was ontwerp om uitmekaar gehaal te word terwyl die SQUIDs binne die LN2 bly. Die skild was doeltreffend, maar ys het verhoed dat die skild verwyder kon word vanaf die LN2 sonder om die SQUIDs ook te verwyder.

Dans ce manuscrit, nous développons des méthodologies de détection et caractérisation de sources géomagnétiques et atmosphériques en se basant sur la transformée en ondelettes continues. Les techniques introduites se basent sur les caractéristiques temps-fréquence des ondes observées dans les séries temporelles magnétotelluriques (MT). A partir de ces procédures de détection, nous détaillons l'implémentation d'une stratégie de détermination des fonctions de réponse MT basée sur les statistiques robustes, et du bootstrap hiérarchique pour le calcul des incertitudes. Deux études MT sont également détaillées. La première étude MT concerne la caractérisation de la structure géoélectrique situé sous l'observatoire magnétique de Chambon-La-Forêt, France. La seconde étude concerne des mesures effectuées dans la vallée de Trisuli au Népal en mars 2016. L'objectif de cette campagne est la comparaison avec une étude effectuée en 1996. Nous discutons des effets topographiques sur les sondages MT. Nous présentons également une nouvelle interprétation de la distribution de conductivité dans le sous-sol de vallée de Trisuli. / In this manuscript, we detail the application of continuous wavelet transform to processing schemes for the detection and the characterisation of geomagnetic and atmospheric sources. Presented techniques are based on time-frequency properties of electromagnetic (EM) waves observed in magnetotellurics (MT) time series. We detail the application of these detection procedures in a MT processing scheme. To recover MT response functions, we use robust statistics and a hierarchical bootstrap approach for uncertainties determination. Interpretation of two datasets are also presented. The first MT study deals with the caracterisation of the resistivity distribution below the French National magnetic observatory of Chambon-la-Forêt. The second study details the interpretation of new MT soundings acquired in March 2016 in the Trisuli valley, Nepal. The main objective of this campaign was to compare the new soundings with an old campaign in 1996. We discuss topography effects on MT soundings and their implication on the resistivity distribution. We also introduce a new interpretation of the resistivity distribution in Trisuli valley.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) are fairly recent types of magnetometers that use flux quantization combined with Josephson tunnelling to detect very faint (< 10¯15 T) magnetic fields. Recent scientific studies have shown that these highly sensitive magnetometers, located in an ultra-low-noise environment, are capable of observing Earth-ionosphere couplings, such as P waves emitted during earthquakes or magnetic storms in the upper atmosphere, S and T breathing modes of the Earth during quiet magnetic and seismic periods, signals in time correlating with sprites. Since SQUIDs are much more sensitive than conventional magnetometers, they are arguably the best tool for understanding space weather and natural hazards, whether they are produced from space or within the ionosphere by magnetic storms for instance, or natural disturbances, including magnetic disturbances produced by earthquakes or as a result of the dynamics of the earth's core. A study was conducted at SANSA Space Science in Hermanus, Western Cape, in 2012, to find the correlation between SQUID and Fluxgate data-sets, with the aim of validating the use of a SQUID as a reliable instrument for Space Weather observations. In that study, SQUID data obtained from the Low Noise Laboratory (LSBB) in France was compared to Fluxgate data-sets from the three closest magnetic observatories to LSBB, namely Chambon la For êt (France), Ebro (Spain) and Fürstenfeldbruck (Germany), all further than 500 km from LSBB. As a follow-up study, our aim is to correlate the SANSA Space Science SQUID data at Hermanus with Fluxgate magnetic data also recorded on-site (at Hermanus). There are notable di_erences between the previous study and the current study. In the previous study, the three-axis SQUID used comprised of three low-Tc devices operated in liquid helium (4.2 K) in an underground, low noise environment shielded from most human interferences. The SQUID magnetometer operated at Hermanus for the duration of this study is a high-Tc two-axis device (measuring the x and z components of the geomagnetic field). This SQUID magnetometer operates in liquid nitrogen (77 K), and is completely unshielded in the local geomagnetic field of about 26 uT. The environment is magnetically clean to observatory standards, but experiences more human interference than that at LSBB. The high-Tc SQUIDs also experience excessive 1/f noise at low frequencies which the low-Tc SQUIDs do not suffer from, but the big advantage of the current study is that the SQUIDs are located within 50 m from the observatory's fluxgate. We thus expect far better correlation between SQUID and fluxgate data than what was obtained in the previous study, which should improve the isolation of signals detected by the SQUID but not by the fluxgate. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: SQUIDs (supergeleidende kwantuminterferensietoestelle) is redelik onlangse tipes magnetometers wat vloedkwantisering saam met Josephson-tonneling gebruik om baie klein (< 10¯15 T) magnetiese velde waar te neem. Onlangse wetenskaplike studies het getoon dat hierdie hoogs sensitiewe magnetometers die vermoë het om Aarde-ionosfeerkoppeling waar te neem wanneer dit in 'n ultra-laeruisomgewing geplaas word. Sodanige koppeling sluit in: P-golwe wat deur aardbewings or magnetiese storms in die boonste atmosfeer veroorsaak word; S- en T-asemhalingsmodusse van die Aarde gedurende stil magnetiese en seismiese periodes; en seine in tyd wat korreleer met weerligeffekte in die boonste atmosfeer. Aangesien SQUIDs heelwat meer sensistief is as konvensionele magnetometers, is dit moontlik die beste gereedskap om ruimteweer en geassosieerde natuurlike gevare mee te analiseer; hetsy sulke toestande veroorsaak word vanaf die ruimte (deur die son) of binne die ionosfeer deur magnetiese storms of natuurlike steurings wat deur aardbewings of die dinamika van die Aardkern veroorsaak word. 'n Studie is in 2012 gedoen by SANSA Space Science in Hermanus in die Wes-Kaap om die korrelasie tussen SQUID- en vloedhekdatastelle te vind met die doel om SQUIDs as betroubare instrumente vir ruimteweerwaarneming te bevestig. In daardie studie is SQUID-data verkry vanaf die Laeruis Ondergrondse Laboratorium (LSBB) in Frankryk, en is dit vergelyk met vloedhekdatastelle vanaf die drie naaste magnetiese observatoriums aan LSBB, naamlik: Chambon la Forêt (Frankryk), Ebro (Spanje) en Fürstenfeldbruck (Duitsland). Al drie hierdie observatoriums is verder as 500 km vanaf LSBB. As 'n opvolgstudie is ons doelwit om SQUID- en vloedhekdata wat beide op die terrein van SANSA Space Science in Hermanus waargeneem word, te korreleer. Daar is merkbare verskille tussen hierdie en die vorige studies. In die vorige studie is 'n drie-as lae-Tc SQUID-magnetometer in vloeibare helium (4.2 K) in 'n laeruis ondergrondse laboratorium, afgeskerm teen menslike steurings, gebruik. Die SQUID-magnetometer wat vir die duur van die huidige studie by Hermanus gebruik is, is 'n hoë-Tc twee-as toestel (wat die x - en z -komponente van die geomagnetiese veld meet). Hierdie SQUID-magnetometer opereer in vloeibare stikstof teen 77 K, sonder enige afskerming in die geomagnetiese veld van ongeveer 26 uT. Die omgewing is magneties skoon volgens observatoriumstandaarde, maar ondervind meer menslik-veroorsaakde steurings as LSBB. Die hoë-Tc SQUIDs tel ook heelwat 1/f ruis op (wat lae-frekwensiemetings beïnvloed); iets wat nie 'n rol speel by die lae-Tc SQUIDs nie. Die groot voordeel van die huidige studie is dat die SQUIDs binne 50 meter vanaf die observatorium vloedhekke geleë is. Ons verwag dus heelwat beter korrelasie tussen SQUID- en vloedhekdata as wat met die vorige studie verkry is, wat dit makliker sal maak om die isolasie te verbeter van seine wat deur die SQUIDs waargeneem is, maar nie deur die vloedhekke nie.