Evolution of Geomagnetic Studies in India

356-363Geomagnetic research is the one branch of science which was initiated in India as early as anywhere else in the world. First, regular geomagnetic measurements in India were made in Madras in 1792. The combined geomagnetic data at Colaba and Alibag since 1841 provide the longest series of magnetic data anywhere in the world. The scientific researches by Broun at Trivandrum, and Chambers and Moos at Colaba, provided the basic and the earliest information of solar, lunar and storm variations of the geomagnetic field. The paper describes the combined evolution of geomagnetic research leading to one of the best geomagnetic observatory network for low latitude in the world. The paper also describes the future plans in India to develop this field of science for the study of upper atmosphere, space physics as well as solid earth geophysics