June 9 – 18, 2008

Location
Golden and Boulder, Colorado, USA

Sponsors
International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA)
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Colorado School of Mines (CSM)

The purpose of the XIIIth IAGA Workshop on Geomagnetic Observatory Instruments, Data Acquisition and Processing will be to examine the practical and theoretical challenges of observations of the Earth’s magnetic field at Geomagnetic Observatories. The fundamental goal of the Workshop is the exchange of information, tools, and experience relating to the methodology of such observations. The Workshop will be divided into two parts: Measurement sessions and Scientific sessions. It will also include lectures and training sessions related to magnetic observations.

June 9th (Mon)	Registration and welcome reception
June 10th – 13th	Measurement sessions at Boulder  Training/Lecture sessions at Golden
June 13th	Observatory tour
June 14th (Sat)	Mountain tour and evening barbecue
June 15th (Sun)	Free Day with several possible tours
June 16th – 18th	Scientific Sessions
June 16th (Mon)	Banquet

Monday June 9, 2008

Time	Event	Location
5:00 - 7:00 PM	Registration	CSM North Intramural Field
6:30 - 9:00 PM	Reception Dinner
7:00 - 8:00 PM	Opening Remarks

Tuesday June 10, 2008

Time	USGS - Golden	Boulder - BOU
7:30 AM	Bus Departs Golden for BOU
8:00 - 8:30	Absolutes Training Session (Lecture)
8:30 - 9:00
9:00 - 9:30		Total Field Comparisons	First Absolutes Session
9:30 - 10:00
10:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:00			Second Absolutes Session
11:00 - 11:30	Bus Departs Golden for BOU	Lunch
11:30 - 12:00 PM
12:00 - 12:30			Third Absolutes Session
12:30 - 1:00		Bus Departs BOU for Golden
1:00 - 1:30		Absolutes Training Session (Observations)
1:30 - 2:00			Fourth Absolutes Session
2:00 - 2:30
2:30 - 3:00
3:00 - 3:30			Fifth Absolutes Session
3:30 - 4:00
4:00 - 4:30
4:30 PM		Bus Departs BOU for Golden

Wednesday June 11, 2008

Time	USGS - Golden	Boulder - BOU
7:30 AM	Bus Departs Golden for BOU
8:00 - 8:30	Absolutes Training Session (Lecture)
8:30 - 9:00
9:00 - 9:30		Total Field Comparisons	First Absolutes Session
9:30 - 10:00
10:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:00			Second Absolutes Session
11:00 - 11:30	Bus Departs Golden for BOU	Lunch
11:30 - 12:00
12:00 - 12:30			Third Absolutes Session
12:30 - 1:00		Bus Departs BOU for Golden
1:00 - 1:30		Absolutes Training Session (Observations)
1:30 - 2:00			Fourth Absolutes Session
2:00 - 2:30
2:30 - 3:00
3:00 - 3:30			Fifth Absolutes Session
3:30 - 4:00
4:00 - 4:30
4:30 PM		Bus Departs BOU for Golden

Thursday June 12, 2008

Time	USGS - Golden	Boulder - BOU
7:30 AM	Bus Departs Golden for BOU
8:00 - 8:30	Solar Observations Training (Lecture, Berarducci)
8:30 - 9:00
9:00 - 9:30		Total Field Comparisons	First Absolutes Session
9:30 - 10:00
10:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:00			Second Absolutes Session
11:00 - 11:30	Bus Departs Golden for BOU	Lunch
11:30 - 12:00
12:00 - 12:30			Third Absolutes Session
12:30 - 1:00		Bus Departs BOU for Golden
1:00 - 1:30		Solar Observations Training Session (Observations, Berarducci)
1:30 - 2:00			Fourth Absolutes Session
2:00 - 2:30	Data Processing Training, Session 1 (Caldwell and Stewart)
2:30 - 3:00
3:00 - 3:30	Data Processing Training, Session 2		Fifth Absolutes Session
3:30 - 4:00
4:00 - 4:30
4:30 PM		Bus Departs BOU for Golden

Friday June 13, 2008

Time	Boulder Observatory and NOAA
7:30 AM	Bus Departs Golden for BOU
8:00 - 8:30
8:30 - 9:00
9:00 - 9:30	NOAA SWPC Tour at their Boulder Office	Total Field Comparisons	First Absolutes Session
9:30 - 10:00
10:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:00			Second Absolutes Session
11:00 - 11:30	Bus Departs NOAA for BOU	Lunch
11:30 - 12:00
12:00 - 12:30
12:30 - 1:00	Equipment Setup for Demonstrations
1:00 - 1:30	Auto DIM Demo (Rasson)	Calibration Coil Demo (White and Sauter)	USGS Acquisition System Demo (Stewart and McWhirter)
1:30 - 2:00	Auto DIM Demo	Calibration Coil Demo	USGS Acquisition System Demo
2:00 - 2:30	USGS Acquisition System Demo
2:30 - 3:00
3:00 - 3:30	One-Second Time Stamping discussion (Led by: Love, Rasson, and White)
3:30 - 4:00
4:00 - 4:30	Equipment Pack Up
4:30 PM	Bus Departs BOU for Golden

Saturday June 14, 2008

Time	USGS - Golden
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM	Bus Departs for Mountain Tour
6:00 - 9:00 PM	Evening BBQ at Lions Park

Sunday June 15, 2008

Time	USGS - Golden
10:00 AM	Free Day Buses Depart (Casinos, Hiking and Downtown Denver)
6:00 PM	Busses Return to Golden

Monday June 16, 2008

8:30 AM	Coffee and Continental Breakfast
8:50 - 9:00 AM	Opening Remarks
9:00 - 10:00 AM	Invited Talk - 1
10:00 - 10:15 AM	Mid-Morning Break
10:15 - 11:30 AM	Oral Presentations
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM	Lunch
1:00 - 3:00 PM	Oral Presentations
3:00 - 3:15 PM	Afternoon Break
3:15 - 4:30 PM	Oral Presentations
5:30 PM	Bus Departs Golden for Downtown Denver (1515 Restaurant)
7:00 - 10:30 PM	Banquet
10:30 PM	Buses Return to Golden

Tuesday June 17, 2008

8:30 AM	Coffee and Continental Breakfast
8:50 - 9:00 AM	Opening Remarks
9:00 - 10:00 AM	Invited Talk - 2
10:00 - 10:15 AM	Mid-Morning Break
10:15 - 11:30 AM	Oral Presentations
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM	Lunch
1:00 - 3:00 PM	Oral Presentations
3:00 - 3:15 PM	Afternoon Break
3:15 - 4:30 PM	Oral Presentations
4:30 - 7:00 PM	Poster Session (Refreshments will be available)

Wednesday June 18, 2008

8:30 AM	Coffee and Continental Breakfast
8:50 - 9:00 AM	Opening Remarks
9:00 - 10:00 AM	Invited Talk - 3
10:00 - 10:15 AM	Mid-Morning Break
10:15 - 11:00 AM	Real-Time Data Discussion
11:00 - 11:30 AM	Results of the Measurements Sessions
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM	Lunch
1:00 - 3:00 PM	Oral Presentations
3:00 - 3:15 PM	Afternoon Break
3:15 - 4:30 PM	Oral Presentations
4:30 - 5:00 PM	Closing Remarks for the Workshop

Measurement Sessions

The measurement sessions for calibrating and comparing magnetic instruments will be held at Boulder Magnetic Observatory (BOU) which is about 60 kilometers north of the USGS offices and Colorado School of Mines (CSM). Boulder Observatory has four shaded, outdoor piers and one indoor pier for geomagnetic measurements. The observatory has an on-site coil facility and a limited number of piers available for the other measurements. Wireless networking and computers will be available at the observatory.

Training sessions will be conducted concurrently with the measurement sessions. Lectures will be held at the USGS Office Building in Golden, which is located at 18th and Illinois Streets on the campus of the CSM. Hands-on sessions will be held at the Boulder Observatory.

Scientific Sessions

The scientific sessions covering practical and scientific topics will be held in the Green Center at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM). The meeting room will have seating for 120 participants. A variety of projection equipment will be available ranging from overheads to computer projectors. Wireless Internet access will also be available. Space for poster presentations will be provided in the lobby outside of the meeting room.

The measurement sessions will be conducted at Boulder Magnetic Observatory, June 10 to 13. Comparative geomagnetic measurements will be possible with instruments brought by the participants. Instruments can include, DI-Fluxgate magnetometers, and total field magnetometers. If you have any special needs or requirements for an instrument, please let us know in advance of the workshop. One can sign up for the individual observing sessions when registering on-line. There will also be training sessions organized for those seeking instruction in the use of the DI-Flux instrument. When registering, make sure to indicate if you want to attend the training session.

If you wish to set up an instrument for pre-workshop testing or longer term comparisons, please contact Ed Sauter, esauter@usgs.gov as he will be in charge of assisting with this. We have limited space so please contact Ed by May 1, 2008.

Geomagnetic instruments brought in as luggage should be free of custom charges, because they are scientific instruments which are considered “tools of the trade”. In an effort to prevent potential customs fees on your instruments, a letter of invitation can be provided, along with a description of your instrument and serial number. If you need a letter of invitation, please send us an e-mail at iaga2008@usgs.gov.

During the Measurement Session three separate training sessions will be conducted for Workshop participants. These are:

The session on Absolute measurements will start on Tuesday and continue through Thursday. It will consist of two lecture periods Tuesday and Wednesday morning and hands-on training at Boulder Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday if necessary. The goal will be to teach the students to perform quality sets of absolutes using a DI-flux magnetometer. The basic principles, observational method, and data reduction will be covered. Students are encouraged to bring their own instruments.

The solar observations training session will include a lecture Thursday morning and a practical session in the afternoon. The goal will be to teach the students how to perform solar observations (also called sun shots) to determine the true azimuth for field work.

A data processing training session will be conducted Thursday afternoon. The goal will be to teach the students in the art and science of adopting baselines, data cleaning and baseline corrections to produce definitive Geomagnetic data.

The scientific sessions will be held at the Green Center at the Colorado School of Mines, June 16 to 18, 2008. Presentations can be oral or poster. Presentations on observatory practice and data applications are encouraged. The sessions will include the following topics:

Poster Papers can be setup anytime before 4:30 on the 17th.

Campus map: www.mines.edu/csm_maps/click.shtml
The Green center is Building 1, in Section F. The USGS is Building 3, Section H.

One of the sponsors of the Workshop, IAGA, is sponsoring a Best Paper Award for a Young Scientist. To be eligible for the award, the candidate should be a maximum of 30 years old in 2008, be the first author of the paper presented, shall have made a major contribution to the subject of the paper, and shall make a very good presentation at the meeting.

The recipient will receive support from IAGA to attend the 2009 IAGA Assembly in Sopron, Hungary. Support will include low-cost airfare, waived registration fee, and $200 to cover housing and incidentals.

Abstract Deadline:

May 1, 2008

Abstract Submission:

Abstracts will be submitted through an on-line service that will provide the formatting and other details, located here: Abstract Submission.

A pre-conference program will be published and provided with the registration packets upon arrival and will also be available on-line by late May 2008. The pre-conference program will contain a schedule of the scientific sessions as well as copies of all abstracts submitted by the abstract deadline. We are planning to publish the papers presented at the Workshop as a post-conference proceedings volume. All papers should be written in English. The formatting requirements will be published at a later date.

Registration Deadline:

May 1, 2008

The registration fee covers most of the costs associated with the workshop. The fee includes lunch and refreshments each day, two Barbecues, the banquet and transportation to and from the Boulder Observatory. Participants will be responsible for covering the costs of their lodging, breakfast, some dinners, and meals on free days.

Registration is possible on-line. Payment can be made when registering and can be made by check, wire transfer or credit card, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. The registration link is provided here: Registration

*Student registration does not include the weekend barbecue and final banquet.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation of workshop registration can be done until June 1, 2008. However, a $200 fee will be deducted. Persons who cancel will still receive a Proceedings volume.

Accommodations for participants are available at three locations – two hotels and CSM dorm rooms. Guests must call hotels directly to recieve these rates.

Hotels:

Participants must arrange for their lodging separately and call the hotels directly to arrange for payment. The deadline for reserving hotel rooms at the conference rate is May 5, 2008 for Table Mountain Inn, and May 8, 2008 for The Golden Hotel. Make sure to mention the IAGA Workshop or USGS as a group name to get the correct rate. Both hotels are within walking distance (less than 1 km) of the workshop.

CSM Dorms:

There are also 40 rooms available in the Colorado School of Mines dormitories ($38 per night, single occupancy, $34 double occupancy). These will be available by application/request to iaga2008@usgs.gov. These rooms will be granted on basis of need. Dorm rooms must be reserved by June 4, 2008.

More hotel choices at: www.mines.edu/outreach/cont_ed/accommod.html

Hotel Shuttles are not always available, so most of the hotels at this link are best suited to those with their own rental car or planning to utilize public transportation.

The USGS Geomagnetism Program offices are located on the campus of the Colorado School of Mines, in Golden, Colorado. Golden is located about 25 kilometers west of Denver, Colorado. Public transportation is available to Golden, Denver, and to Denver International Airport (DEN).

Arrival in Denver by airplane:

There are several options to get from the Airport to the Hotels in Golden.

Regardless of which option you choose, a local host will be waiting for visitors as they arrive in the main airport terminal with an “IAGA Workshop” sign.

1. We will have a free van service available to pick people up at the airport and drive to Golden. It is critical that you let us know of your arrival information when you register so that we can pick up several people at once. More details on this will be available in May.

2. Shuttle Bus: The USGS has also made arrangements with two commercial shuttle services, in the event that we are unable to arrange for individual pickups.

• a) The Colorado State Express will take participants directly from the airport to Golden. The price will depend on the number of people in the Shuttle Bus, and could range from as low as $20 round-trip to as much as $160 round-trip. Therefore, we strongly advise that you let us know of your arrival information when you register so that we can arrange to provide this service to you at the lowest cost possible, if needed.

• b) SuperShuttle Denver has also agreed to discounted rates for IAGA participants. Reservations can be made online at one of the following links:

  Pre-arranged discounted shuttle service to hotels in Golden is $56.00 round trip per person or $33.00 one way per person online at www.supershuttle.com; enter CA4NG as the discount code, or use the link: www.supershuttle.com/default.aspx?GC=CA4NG

  Pre-arranged discounted shuttle service to Weaver Tower (CSM Dorms) is $60.00 round trip per person or $30.00 one way per person online at www.supershuttle.com; enter S2DND as the discount code, or use the link: www.supershuttle.com/default.aspx?GC=S2DND

3. Public Transportation (SkyRide bus service): www.rtd-denver.com/skyRide

4. Taxi cab: Price ranges from $65 to $100 depending on the number of passengers.

5. Click here for additional travel information (car rental, weather, airport info): www.mines.edu/outreach/cont_ed/travel.htm

Currency

Legal currency in the United States is the dollar. Current exchange rates for several currencies are listed below:

*As of April 4, 2008

Due to the current flux in financial markets these exchange rates are likely to change. We will do our best to update the table monthly. Major credit cards are accepted at most businesses and restaurants. There are also several ATM’s and banks within walking distance of the workshop.

Visa Information

Anyone needing a visa to attend the workshop should apply at least 3-4 months in advance of the meeting and preferably as soon as possible. This is due to increased security policies in the U. S. For general information about visas there are several web sites with information.

The State Department has required citizens from VWP countries to obtain visas if they do not have machine-readable passports and they wish to visit the U.S. One-time exemptions are no longer available to VWP nationals who do not possess a machine-readable passport or a non-immigrant visa.

If you need a letter of invitation, please send us an e-mail at iaga2008@usgs.gov

Climate

The weather in June can be quite warm, day time temperatures can range from 20 to 35 degrees C, night time temperatures can range from 5 to 15 degrees C. The mornings can be quite sunny, but brief afternoon thunderstorms are not uncommon. Golden is at an elevation of 5800 ft (1750 m) and is next to the Rocky Mountains, so the weather can get cool rather quickly. Due to the higher altitude and sun, sunscreen is recommended.

People attending the barbecues, which are scheduled in the evening, should dress appropriately.

The higher elevations of Golden and Boulder may also result in mild cases of altitude sickness. If you are not accustomed to higher elevations, take it easy and do not overexert yourself on the first day when you arrive in Colorado. It is also recommended that you engage in some light activity after that first day of taking it easy. Hydrating is the next key step. Dehydration is a common cause of headaches at altitude. Drink plenty of water. Four to six liters per day is recommended. If a headache occurs, take some acetaminophen or analgesics. Other things to avoid while at higher altitude would be alcohol, caffeine, sleeping pills and narcotic pain medication in more than modest doses.

City of Golden

Golden, Colorado has many attractions to visit, ranging from Coors Brewery to the Colorado Railroad Museum. A good source of information about activities in Golden can be found at www.2hourvacation.com

Golden is part of the Denver metropolitan area with lots to see and do. There are lots of museums, shopping, history and a zoo to see. Find more information at www.denver.org/events

Electric Power

Power in the United States is 120V at 60 Hz. In addition, the observatory has its own limited power supply of 12 and 24V DC. 240V at 60 Hz will also be available at the observatory.

For further information, please contact:

Alan Berarducci
U. S. Geological Survey
PO Box 25046 MS 966
Denver, CO 80225-0046
E-mail: IAGA2008@usgs.gov
Tel: 1-303-273-8484
Fax: 1-303-273-8506
http://geomag.usgs.gov/iagaxiii/circular/workshop-home.php

Local Organizing Committee

Alan Berarducci (Chair)
Jean Rasson (Special Advisor)
Tim White
Carol Finn
Jill Caldwell
Paul Hattori
Jeffrey J. Love
Ed Sauter
Duff Stewart
John B. “Jack” Townshend
Andy Woods
Bill Worthington