The Geomagnetic Program, then part of the US Coast and Geodetic Survey, began work in Fairbanks during the Second International Polar Year, 1932-1934, as part of an effort with the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution. Collaborative work with the University of Alaska began in the 1940's, with the full-fledged College observatory commencing operation in 1948. Today, the College observatory is located on the College International Geophysical Observatory (CIGO), a facility established in 1996 through a collaborative effort between the USGS Geomagnetism Program and the University of Alaska. The CIGO is managed by the University's Geophysical Institute. In 2009, the 46-acre site was renamed to the Jack Townshend CIGO, in honor of longtime USGS employee Jack Townshend, the visionary and developer of the site.
![Sign posted with an older man standing next to it](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/CIGO_JackTownshend_Sign2.jpg?itok=Xb1mODyH)
Station Id: CMO
Location: Fairbanks, AK
Latitude: 64.8742°N
Longitude: 147.8597°W
Geomagnetic Latitude: 65.46°N*
Geomagnetic Longitude: 263.79°E*
Elevation: 197 meters
Orientation: HDZF
* IGRF values as of 2015.
Other Operations
- A borehole seismometer for the USGS Global Seismic Network
- A seismometer for the Alaskan Tsunami Warning Center
- A small coil-caliboration facility developed in collaboration with the University and the USGS
- A magnetometer operated for the Geophysical Institute Magnetometer Array
- An infrasound array operated by the Infrasound Research Group of the UAF/GI
- World-Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN)
Photos:
![An aerial view of College International Geophysical Observatory (CIGO).](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/CIGO_aerial_low.jpg?itok=EV5xfaId)
![Magnetic observatory buildings at the College International Geophysical Observatory (CIGO) Fairbanks, AK.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/College.jpg?itok=sOmxA789)
The Geomagnetic Program, then part of the US Coast and Geodetic Survey, began work in Fairbanks during the Second International Polar Year, 1932-1934, as part of an effort with the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution. Collaborative work with the University of Alaska began in the 1940's, with the full-fledged College observatory commencing operation in 1948. Today, the College observatory is located on the College International Geophysical Observatory (CIGO), a facility established in 1996 through a collaborative effort between the USGS Geomagnetism Program and the University of Alaska. The CIGO is managed by the University's Geophysical Institute. In 2009, the 46-acre site was renamed to the Jack Townshend CIGO, in honor of longtime USGS employee Jack Townshend, the visionary and developer of the site.
![Sign posted with an older man standing next to it](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/CIGO_JackTownshend_Sign2.jpg?itok=Xb1mODyH)
Station Id: CMO
Location: Fairbanks, AK
Latitude: 64.8742°N
Longitude: 147.8597°W
Geomagnetic Latitude: 65.46°N*
Geomagnetic Longitude: 263.79°E*
Elevation: 197 meters
Orientation: HDZF
* IGRF values as of 2015.
Other Operations
- A borehole seismometer for the USGS Global Seismic Network
- A seismometer for the Alaskan Tsunami Warning Center
- A small coil-caliboration facility developed in collaboration with the University and the USGS
- A magnetometer operated for the Geophysical Institute Magnetometer Array
- An infrasound array operated by the Infrasound Research Group of the UAF/GI
- World-Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN)
Photos:
![An aerial view of College International Geophysical Observatory (CIGO).](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/CIGO_aerial_low.jpg?itok=EV5xfaId)
![Magnetic observatory buildings at the College International Geophysical Observatory (CIGO) Fairbanks, AK.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/College.jpg?itok=sOmxA789)