Much of the world relies on groundwater as a water resource, yet it is hard to know when and where rainfall replenishes our groundwater aquifers. Caves, mines, and tunnels that are situated above the groundwater table are unique observatories of water transiting from the land surface to the aquifer. This paper will show how networks of loggers deployed in these underground spaces across Australia have helped understand when, where, and how much rainfall is needed to replenish the groundwater.

Low-cost sensors could fill gaps in existing observation networks. To ensure data quality, the quality of the factory calibration of a given sensor has to be evaluated if the sensor is used out of the box. Here, the factory calibration of a widely used low-cost rain gauge type has been tested both in the lab (66) and in the field (20). The results of the study suggest that the calibration of this particular type should at least be checked for every sensor before being used.

We present the experimental results of a new copper-based alloy suitable for use in high-precision magnetic sensing. It outperforms by providing lower magnetic noise and superior power consumption. Prototype sensors constructed from this material can meet an exacting standard, the 2012 1 s INTERMAGNET standard, for magnetic observatories.

The magnetic equator is the region where the magnetic field is horizontal and therefore strong ionospheric electric currents occur, the so-called equatorial electrojet. The magnetic equator is predicted to be at Macapá state in 2024. Therefore, a new magnetometer station was installed in Macapá in order to track the effects of the equatorial electrojet. We present the setup and data analysis of Macapá station, and we develop a method for temperature correction of the vector magnetometer data.

We compared wind measurements using different lidar setups at various heights. The triple Doppler lidar, sonic anemometer, and two single Doppler lidars were tested. Overall, the lidar methods showed good agreement with the sonic anemometer. The triple Doppler lidar performed better than single Doppler lidars, especially at higher altitudes. We also developed a new filtering approach for virtual tower scanning strategies. Single Doppler lidars provide reliable wind data over flat terrain.

The paper discusses the accuracy of the scalar magnetometer on board the scientific satellite mission Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer of the European Space Agency. A novel method is described which utilises experiments, performed with a coil system in a geomagnetic observatory, and a mathematical data processing approach to separate the systematic errors of the coil system from the systematic error of the magnetometer. With this, the paper shows that the instrument’s accuracy is below 0.2 nT (1σ).

Heat storage in the soil is difficult to measure due to vertical heterogeneity. To improve measurements, we designed a 3D-printed probe that uses fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing to measure a vertical profile of soil temperature. We validated the temperature measurements against standard instrumentation. With the high-resolution data we were able to determine the thermal diffusivity of the soil at a resolution of 2.5 cm, which is much higher compared to traditional methods.

The remote-sensing InSAR technique is vital for monitoring slope instabilities but requires understanding. This paper delves into differences between satellite and GB-InSAR. It offers a tool to determine the optimal GB-InSAR installation site, considering various technical, meteorological, and topographical factors. By generating detailed maps and simulating radar image characteristics, the tool eases the setup of monitoring campaigns for effective and accurate ground movement tracking.

Demonstrating the space flight capability of the next generation of precise, reliable magnetic field instruments is important for enabling future space science missions that will further our understanding of the connection between Earth's magnetic field and the Sun. Here, we present a new magnetic field instrument design called Tesseract, the results from its successful first space flight demonstration aboard a rocket, and its measurements of magnetic fields associated with the aurora.

We developed a serialized small-diameter hydraulic fracturing in situ stress measurement system, which enables series measurement of small-sized boreholes for in situ stress and has the advantage of a simple and lightweight structure, short testing time, high success rate, and low requirements for rock integrity and pressurization equipment. This system has important practical value and economic significance for accurately determining the in situ stress state of deep development areas.

Nearly 200 sets of three-axis fluxgate magnetometers are used in Chinese geomagnetic observatories, but due to their directional errors, it is necessary to study error correction methods to improve measurement accuracy. Experimental results show that correcting the Z-axis and D-axis directional errors is essential. The observation data after error correction demonstrate the clear correction effect. The measurement device used in the experiment is low in cost and easy to disseminate.

Transportation networks, such as road or river systems and electricity grids, are often equipped with various sensors that produce vast amounts of data that reflect real-life situations on these networks. We present an all-in-one data management solution to deal with these data. Our solution addresses both the storage and querying of such data and is based on a theoretical database model and query logic. In addition, this is implemented and tested on real-life datasets.

This study uses the WRF–CALMET model to study the influence of topography near Zhongchuan Airport on low-level wind shear. The simulation accuracy of CALMET is higher than that of WRF. Terrain sensitivity experiments highlighted CALMET's ability to respond to terrain changes during periods of high wind speeds. This study verified the effectiveness of CALMET in simulating low-altitude wind shear, highlighting its excellent ability to capture terrain effects and mitigate aviation safety issues.

This study presents an overview of a data system for documenting, processing, managing, and publishing data streams from research networks of atmospheric and environmental sensors of varying complexity in urban environments. Our solutions aim to deliver resilient, near-time data using freely available software.

Natural gas hydrate (GH) is a significant potential energy source. However, the gas production rate of past GH production tests is much lower than the requirement of commercial gas production. Reservoir stimulation technologies like hydraulic fracture provide one potential approach to enhance gas production from GH. This paper presents an experimental facility that was developed to analyze the hydraulic fracture mechanism in a synthesized hydrate-bearing sediments.

Spaceflight magnetic-field measurements are often contaminated by interference from the host spacecraft. We present a new dataset to enable the development and testing of interference mitigation schemes for spaceflight magnetic-field data. Over 100 h of data, including laboratory-generated proxies for magnetic interference and geophysical signals, have been produced. A ground truth for the underlying interference is also provided, enabling the rigorous quantification of data-cleaning techniques.

We have developed a novel flexible measurement array for deep landslide displacement and measurement processes, which enables higher accuracy in full-hole multidimensional deformation measurement. It provides a more comprehensive monitoring tool for disaster prevention and reduction.

In an airborne survey, dynamic flight conditions cause unequal data levels, which have a serious impact on airborne geophysical data analysis and interpretation. A new technique is proposed to level geophysical data, and we confirm the reliability of the method by applying it to magnetic data and apparent conductivity data. The method can automatically extract the levelling errors without the participation of staff members or tie line control.

This paper describes the development of a controlled-source ultra-audio frequency electromagnetic receiver based on remote wireless communication technology for use in geophysical prospecting. Our design successfully addresses several shortcomings of such instruments currently available on the market, including their weight, limitations in data acquisition frequency, and difficulty in connecting to the internet for remote monitoring.

Our research introduces technology for exploring subglacial lakes while keeping them isolated from surface contamination. The RECoverable Autonomous Sonde (RECAS) can drill ice both downward and upward, allowing clean water sampling. In some cases, the sonde should drill at specific angles to follow a trajectory, maintain verticality, or bypass obstacles. This paper describes the general principles of steering the RECAS by adjusting the drill's heat distribution and the experimental results.

A new ground-based technique is described, called distance of flight of cosmic-ray muons, for sensing the height of the layer of the Earth where cosmic-ray muons are generated, called the muopause, which is closely related to the height of the tropopause and lower stratosphere.

This paper describes new humidity measurements performed with the humidity instruments of the MSL, Mars 2020 and ExoMars missions. Special facilities are needed to create Martian conditions, and a measurement campaign was performed at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to obtain datasets for REMS-H, MEDA HS and METEO-H instruments. The results from the campaign improved the humidity data we receive from MEDA HS/Perseverance and can further improve the existing Martian relative humidity data.

Clay minerals are helpful markers of low-temperature geological processes. The combination of their characterization with geochronology is a powerful tool to constrain physical and chemical processes, improving our understanding of the evolution of the Earth system. This paper aims to present the platform along with the associated methods developed at the GeoRessources laboratory (University of Lorraine) to separate and characterize clay minerals and date illites using the K–Ar method.

This research aims to tackle the issue of inconvenient clock synchronization in marine controlled-source electromagnetic (MCSEM) operations with coaxial cables. This clock synchronization method in the paper can be applied to scenarios where coaxial cables are used for MCSEM operations. We hope that in the future, MCSEM transmitters can be deployed on a wider variety of ships to reduce costs and broaden the scope of applications.

In spring 2021, a study compared sea surface temperature (SST) measurements from thermal infrared (IR) and passive microwave (PMW) radiometers on a ferry between Denmark and Iceland. The goal was to reduce atmospheric effects and directly compare IR and PMW measurements. A method was developed to convert PMW data to match IR data, with uncertainties analysed in the process. The findings provide insights to improve SST inter-comparisons and enhance the synergy between IR and PMW observations.

We developed a software system for a high-precision magnetometer platform, specifically designed for human-occupied vehicles (HOVs). The system integrates magnetometers to deliver accurate magnetic field detection, with advanced features such as automatic probe switching and magnetic compensation. The system's performance was validated through rigorous laboratory tests and marine experiments on the Shenhai Yongshi platform. 

Under German law, crack damage stress must not be reached at any time during the operation or post-closure phase of a nuclear waste repository. This legal requirement can only be fulfilled if the parameter can be measured precisely. We have thus developed a new measurement technique, which overcomes the limitations of the conventional method. In combination, old and new methods offer an easy procedure to detect crack damage stress in fully saturated rocks in a fast and robust manner.