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SCAR Working Group on Solar-Terrestrial and Astrophysical Research

With the exception of the immediate vicinity of the stations, the Antarctic continent represents an essentially pristine electromagnetic environment so that the natural environmental levels of electromagnetic signals can be studied over a wide range of geomagnetic latitudes. The measured levels can then be used as the knowledge base for similar geomagnetic latitudes which are occupied by humans but in places where the human-produced interference is so large that the natural background levels can not readily be ascertained. The further importance of knowledge of the natural electromagnetic levels arises from the need to know the limits to which human exposures can be reduced: it makes no sense to attempt exposure limits to less than the naturally-occurring background levels. There is growing concern about human exposure to electromagnetic energy in the frequency range of a few hundredths of a Hertz to several hundred Hertz, the range for which Antarctic measurements can importantly contribute. Hence, it is essential to preserve, insofar as this is possible, pristine electromagnetic cleanliness throughout the Antarctic.

If you would like more information about the Working Group on Solar-Terrestrial and Astrophysical Research, why not visit the STAR home page or contact the Chief Officer of the Group.

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For current information please go to the Standing Scientific Group on Physical Sciences information pages

Chief Officer
Dr Maurizio Candidi
Insituto Fisica dello Spazio Inerplanetario
Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche
Tor Vergata, Via Fosso del Cavaliere snc
Roma 00133
Italy

Tel:  +39 6 4993 4488
Fax: +39 6 499 4383
candidi@ifsi.rm.cnr.it