Capacity building in space weather: international cooperation for the development of the Honduran magnetic observatory

1. Magnetic prospecting. The establishment of the Magnetic Observatory of Honduras (MAGHO) has generated significant scholarly output and international recognition, documented through the following key dissemination activities: Peer-reviewed publication: A comprehensive preprint detailing the site assessment and multi-year magnetic prospecting campaign (2019-2025) has been accepted for publication in the special issue "Geomagnetic observatories, their data, and the application of their data” of the reputable journal Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods, and Data Systems (Castillo et al., 2025). International conference participation: The scientific rationale and methodology of MAGHO have been presented to the international community through a poster and proceedings at the IAU Symposium 400 in Colombia and have been included in the proceedings of the XX IAGA Workshop on Geomagnetic Observatory Instruments. Data transparency and accessibility: The foundational magnetic prospecting data collected from 2019 to 2025 have been made publicly available on ResearchGate, ensuring transparency and facilitating further research by the global scientific community. Figure 1 shows the prospecting conducted in the First Artillery Battalion in Zambrano, Francisco Morazán, in 2024 and 2025. Figure 2 illustrates the prospecting conducted in the First Communications Battalion in Las Mesas, Francisco Morazán, in 2024 and 2025. The QR at its side redirects to the EGUsphere preprint “The first magnetic observatory of Honduras: Assessment and magnetic prospecting in 2019 – 2025”, with more details about the MAGHO. 2. ScintPi monitor The deployment of the ScintPi monitor (Gómez Socola, Rodrigues, 2022) in Honduras has yielded significant scientific output, validated its operational capability and generated novel data for the region. Key results include: Instrument validation and novel detection: A final degree work was completed, confirming the reliability of the ScintPi for measuring ionospheric scintillation (S4 index) and Total Electron Content (TEC). International dissemination: The significance of these initial findings has been recognised internationally, with a presentation on the results being accepted at the prestigious 17th International Symposium on Equatorial Aeronomy in Costa Rica (February 2026). Peer-reviewed publications: The project has contributed to the global scientific discourse through a peer-reviewed article (Wright, Rodrigues, Socola, 2025). A second manuscript, detailing the specific measurements of S4 scintillation and EPBs in Honduras, is currently in preparation. Figure 3 shows the scintillation index measured in Tegucigalpa in October – December 2023. 3. EL-BONGÓ Astroparticles’ Community As a direct outcome of the El-Bongó project (EL-BONGÓ Physics, 2025), two undergraduate students of the Bachelor in Astronomy and Astrophysics of the UNAH received specialised training in cosmic ray instrumentation and computing at the Industrial University of Santander in Colombia. They assembled a Muon Neutron Radiation detector (MUNRA 6), which they brought to Honduras (shown in Figure 4). Furthermore, the project has facilitated their participation in the international academic meeting "Bridges in Science," fostering scientific exchange. Building on this momentum, a key project deliverable currently in development is a dedicated course on space weather and astroparticles, scheduled for launch in 2026 to serve students across Central and Northern South America. A central long-term objective is the formal incorporation of Honduras into the Latin American Giant Observatory (LAGO). This strategic move would integrate the country into a major regional research infrastructure for cosmic ray studies. 4. EZIE-Magnetometer. Figure 3 shows the EZIE-Mag installed in Honduras (data has not been processed yet). The core mission of the magnetic observatory is to investigate the full chain of processes from the Sun to the Earth, evaluate the vulnerabilities of our critical technologies, and develop advanced models for forecasting and impact assessment. It ensures we are prepared not only for routine space weather disturbances, but also for the extreme solar storms that history confirms are an inevitable part of our future in an active solar system. This poster has documented the scientific and logistical process that will culminate in the creation of the first Magnetic Observatory of Honduras (MAGHO). The results of the magnetic prospecting confirm that the selected site in Zambrano Mountain meets all the international criteria established by IAGA, guaranteeing the quality and reliability of the data. MAGHO's operational status and its integration into global programs demonstrate that the project has achieved its primary objective: closing a crucial geophysical data gap in Central America. The observatory is positioning to make significant contributions to space weather research, serve as a vital node for regional early warning, and foster ongoing scientific collaboration. Acknowledgements. We acknowledge the UNAH’s Departments of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Science and Technologies of Geographic Information, Archaeoastronomy and Cultural Astronomy; Earth Physics; Institute of Earth Sciences, Institute of Archaeoastronomy, Cultural and Natural Heritage, Directorate of Scientific Research (who gave a research grant in 2024 from the substructure 2-05-09-02 Fondo Concursable para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica); Faculty of Engineering. We also thanks to the Armed Forces of Honduras, National Electric Power Company, PROGEO, Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources of Germany (BGR), British Geological Survey (BGS), Institute of Geophysics of UNAM (Mexico), University of Coimbra (Portugal), Costa Rican Institute of Electricity (ICE), International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA), National Observatory of Brazil, Instituto Colombiano de Crédito Educativo y Estudios Técnicos en el Exterior (ICETEX), Oficina de Relaciones Exteriores de la Universidad Industrial de Santander, University of Texas at Dallas, Johns Hopkins University, NASA, Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, Pedro Corona (Mexican Space Weather Service, SCIESMEX). Castillo-Rosales, Y.S., Palma-Cruz, N.I., Rodrıguez-Maradiaga, M., Rodrıguez-García, F.E., Guerrero-Mejía, I.J., Turbitt, C.W., Aguilar-Ochoa, A.J., García-Osorio, C.A., Mendieta-Brizuela, O.R., Martínez-Hernández, I.R., Flores-Portillo, S.E., Vides-Zerón, J.L., Rasson, J., Riddick, J., Cifuentes-Nava, G., Caccavari-Garza, A., Gómez-Pérez, N., 2025, The first magnetic observatory of Honduras: Assessment and magnetic prospecting in 2019 – 2025, EGUsphere Preprint repository. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2319. EL-BONGÓ Physics, 2025. About the project. Erasmus Project. Accessed on 15 October 2025. https://elbongo.redclara.net/en/about-the-project/ EZIE-Mag, 2025. What is EZIE-MAG? Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University. Accessed on 15 October 2025. https://eziemag.jhuapl.edu/ Gomez Socola, J., Rodrigues, F.S., 2022, ScintPi 2.0 and 3.0: low-cost GNSS-based monitors of ionospheric scintillation and total electron content. Earth Planets Space 74, 185. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-022-01743-x. I. G. Wright et al., "Scintillation and High-Rate TEC Observations at Mid Latitudes During the Gannon Storm", 2025, United States National Committee of URSI National Radio Science Meeting (USNC-URSI NRSM), Boulder, CO, USA, 2025, pp. 309-311, doi: 10.23919/USNC-URSINRSM66067.2025.10906810. R EFERENCES The project commenced in 2019 following capacity-building initiatives supported by international partners, as the UNAM Institute of Geophysics and the British Geological Survey. Site selection was based on an extensive geomagnetic prospecting campaign involving 47 field surveys (25 ground, 3 aerial, and 4 topographic) across nineteen sites. The chosen location in the Zambrano Mountain (14°15’09”N, 87°25’23”W) was optimal due to its low magnetic gradients, minimal artificial interference, security and stable soil composition, meeting international standards for magnetic observatories. MAGHO is now a functional node in some global scientific programs, including projects for ionospheric scintillation monitoring (ScintPi), geomagnetic field vector measurement (EZIE-Mag), and cosmic-ray detection (EL-BONGÓ). This observatory fills a critical data gap in Central America, strengthening regional capabilities in geomagnetism and space weather research while contributing valuable data to the international community. CAPACITY BUILDING IN SPACE WEATHER: INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HONDURAN MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY Yvelice-Soraya Castillo-Rosales , Norman-Iván Palma-Cruz , Manuel-de-Jesús Rodrıguez-Maradiaga , Félix-Enrique Rodrıguez-Garcıa , Iván-Jorel Guerrero-Mejía , Christopher-William Turbitt , André-Jared Aguilar-Ochoa , Carlos-Alberto García-Osorio , Oscar-Rolando Mendieta-Brizuela , Carmen-Gissela Díaz-Ríos , Isaías-Rafael Martínez-Hernández , Samuel-Elías Flores-Portillo , Jonathan-Luciano Vides-Zerón , Jean Rasson , John Riddick , Gerardo Cifuentes-Nava , Ana Caccavari-Garza , Fabiano Rodrigues , Josemaría Gómez-Socola , Luis A. Núñez , Miguel-Angel Rojas Quezada 1 1 2,3 2 3 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 7 6 6 8 8 9 Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Earth Sciences Honduran Institute (IHCIT), National Autonomous University of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Department of Earth Sciences, ; National Autonomous University of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras; British Geological Survey (BGS), Keyworth, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI), Brussels, Belgium; Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de ; México (UNAM), CDMX, México; Retired from the British Geological Survey; W. B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas; Escuela de Física, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia; Technological Institute of Costa Rica 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Contact: [email protected] ABSTRACT PROSPECTING CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES Based on the seminal International Association for Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) "Guide for Magnetic Measurements and Observatory Practice" (Jankowski, Sucksdorff, 1996), the requirements for selecting a magnetic observatory site can be summarized into several critical categories, summarized in these key requirements: Magnetic quietness. This is the most crucial factor. The site must be free from artificial, time-varying magnetic disturbances. Magnetic quietness. This is the most crucial factor. The site must be free from artificial, time-varying magnetic disturbances. Infrastructure and accessibility. While being remote and quiet, the site must be practically maintainable. Environmental conditions. The physical environment must be suitable for long-term instrument stability. Absolute house and variometer placement. The guide details specific requirements for the two key structures at an observatory. Geomagnetic and geographic considerations. METHODOLOGY RESULTS Figure 1. Zambrano Battalion prospecting interpolation 2024-2025 (ground) Figure 3. Left: EZIEMag installed in Tegucigalpa and QR code to the EZIE-Mag project Website OBJECTIVES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Figure 2. A sample of Las Mesas Battalion prospecting 2024 (ground) Figure 4. “MUNRA 6” and QR code to El-BONGÓ Physics Website QR code that redirects to the website where the preprint “The first magnetic observatory of Honduras: Assessment and magnetic prospecting in 2019 – 2025” is located. It describes the process followed to select the site for the magnetic observatory. EZIE-MAG AND MUNRA 6 SCINTPI’S S4 INDEX 2023 Figure 5. Scintillation index S4 (see colour bar) computed by the ScintiPi 3.0 in Tegucigalpa, from 18:00 to 6:00 hours, in October -- December 2023 and QR code to the ScintPi Website.