Repository details

World Data Centre for Geomagnetism, Copenhagen

Name of repository
World Data Centre for Geomagnetism, Copenhagen
Additional name(s)
  • WDC - Geomagnetism, Copenhagen
Repository URL
https://www.space.dtu.dk/english/research/scientific_data_and_models/world_data_center_for_geomagnetism
Subject(s)
Description
The WDC has a FTP-server to distribute the PCN index derived from the geomagnetic observatory Qaanaaq (THL) and the Kp-index data products derived at the geomagnetic observatory Niemegk (NGK). The WDC is also holding extensive archives of magnetograms and other geomagnetic observatory data products that predate the introduction of digital data recording. The material is in analogue form such as film or microfiche. The Polar Cap index (abbreviation PC index) consists of the Polar Cap North (PCN) and the Polar Cap South (PCS) index, which are derived from magnetic measurements taken at the geomagnetic observatories Qaanaaq (THL, Greenland, +85o magnetic latitude) and Vostok (VOS, Antarctica, -83o magnetic latitude), respectively. The idea behind these indices is to estimate the intensity of anti-sunward plasma convection in the polar caps. This convection is associated with electric Hall currents and consequent magnetic field variations perpendicular to the antisunward plasma flow (and related Hall current) which can be monitored at the Qaanaaq and Vostok magnetic observatories. PC aims at monitoring the energy input from solar wind to the magnetosphere (loading activity). The index is constructed in such a way that it has a linear relationship with the merging Electric Field at the magnetopause; consequently PC is given in units of mV/m as for the electric field. In August 2013, the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) endorsed the PC index. The endorsed PC index is accessible at pcindex.org or through WDC Copenhagen.
Contact(s)
Content type(s)
Keyword(s)
Repository type(s)
  • disciplinary
Research data repository language(s)
  • English
  • Danish
Data and/or service provider
  • dataProvider

Dates

Started
2010

Institutions (3)

Institution name
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
Additional name(s)
  • GFZ
  • GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung
Institution identifier(s)
Country
Germany
Type(s) of responsibility
  • general
Type of institution
non-profit
Institution name
Technical University of Denmark, DTU Space -National Space Institute
Additional name(s)
  • DTU
  • Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, DTU Space - Institut for Rumforskning og-teknologi
Country
Denmark
Type(s) of responsibility
  • general
  • technical
Type of institution
non-profit
Institution name
World Data System
Additional name(s)
  • ISC World Data System
  • ISC WDS
Institution identifier(s)
Country
International
Type(s) of responsibility
  • general
Type of institution
non-profit

Policies (2)

Policy name
Data Sharing Principles
Policy name
ISC World Data System Constitution

Database access

Type of access to research data repository
open

Data access (1)

Type of access to data
open

Data licenses (1)

Data license
other

Data upload (1)

Type of data upload
closed
Persistent identifier system(s)
  • none
Name of the repository software
  • unknown
Versioning
yes
Profile(s)

Application programming interfaces (1)

Type
FTP
Url
ftp://ftp.space.dtu.dk/WDC/

Metadata standards (1)

Metadata standard
ISO 19115

Remarks

Remarks
The WDC Copenhagen was established for the International Geophysical Year in 1957 at the Danish Meteorological Institute. The Geomagnetic Data Master Catalogue of hourly and 1-minute means of the geomagnetic observatories was developed at WDC Copenhagen and moved to WDC Edinburgh at BGS in 2007. The WDC Copenhagen is maintained by DTU Space from 2010 onwards. The WDC Copenagen is accredited by ICSU World Data System (ICSU-WDS). Data Sharing Principles read more: https://worlddatasystem.org/about/data-sharing-principles/
Entry date
2013-05-16
Last update
2026-02-17
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re3data.org: World Data Centre for Geomagnetism, Copenhagen; editing status 2026-02-17; re3data.org - Registry of Research Data Repositories. https://doi.org/10.17616/R31S4J last accessed: 2026-03-12