About REGMEX array

The Geomagneitc Station Network of Mexico or REGMEX (from Spanish spelling) is a Space Weather National Laboratory (LANCE) project that aims to help safeguard National Security by providing, in real time, useful information for the protection of infrastructure, technology and services susceptible to the effects of geomagnetic storms (GMSs).

For this purpose, REGMEX team works to:

• Carry out a continuous near real-time review of geomagnetic field conditions in Mexico.
• Develop, operate and maintain infrastructure and technology that allow registration of geomagnetic field in Mexico.
• Distribution of products dedicated to the characterization and monitoring of the magnetic field in the national territory.

Additionally, our database is free and open to encourage scientific and technical studies and collaborations. See our Data Policy for further details.

REGMEX Background

Space meteorology or space weather studies the manifestations and effects that solar activity has on the Earth system. This includes the repercussions they may have on technological infrastructure, human health and other areas yet to be investigated. One of the high-risk space weather events is geomagnetic storms (GMSs). It is considered that an extreme GMSs could cause a planetary-scale catastrophe, using or significantly limiting essential technologies in vast regions for weeks or months. The above makes GMS a natural hazard that requires management from the highest levels.

Due to the heterogeneity of the Earth and the anisotropies in the ionospheric and magnetospheric currents, GMSs manifest themselves differently in each region. Therefore, to carry out effective risk management due to GMSs, it is essential to have national coverage and adequate instrumentation for the early detection and registration of these phenomena.

Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) on our planet are a consequence of GMSs that can cause overloads in high voltage electrical distribution networks. In extreme cases, GICs can disable power transformers, leaving extensive regions without electricity as has happened in the past. These events may cause great economic losses and put the civilian population at risk, particularly those concentrated in large cities.

The General Civil Protection Law of Mexico already considers extreme Space Weather events as threats to National Security. Therefore, the Mexican government has the mandate to address the risks and manage reaction plans to these phenomena. In this context, the development of infrastructure to monitor GMSs is essential. Which is one of the main objectives of REGMEX array.

Risk due to Geomagnetic Storms in Mexico

Studies of risk and vulnerability to GMSs and GICs in Mexico are scarce. In the specialized literature we have the works of Ramón Caraballo and collaborators (2020 and 2023). These works investigated the intensity of GICs in the national high-power electrical grid caused by intense GMS and concluded that Mexico's high voltage transmission network is affected even during moderate geomagnetic disturbances.

The figure summarizes the most relevant results obtained in Caraballo et. to the. (2020). We note that the ends of the network (black solid lines) oriented to the induced electric field (cherry-color arrow) tend to be the most vulnerable regions (circles with larger radii). According to this study, the following are identified as vulnerable regions:

• Yucatán-Quintana Roo,
• Veracruz,
• Coahuila-Nuevo León,
• Sonora-Chihuahua,
• Sinaloa,
• Chiapas, Jalisco and and Michocacán

REGMEX Project

Because of the commented in previous paragraphs, the REGMEX project's primary objective is the real-time recording/monitoring of the geomagnetic field in regions identified as being at risk for Space Weather events. To this end, we contemplate the development of a network of geomagnetic stations (GMS) distributed throughout the continental territory of Mexico. At the right side of this page, we list the links ot our GMS.

• Study the influence of geomagnetically induced currents.
• Assist in subsoil conductivity studies and other types of geophysical and geological studies that may apply.
• Provide high-quality data (geomagnetic records) for the development of scientific research.