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Glite Dictionary
magnetometry

magnetometry

1 7.7
Measuring invisible forces that make compass needles point to study the ground and find hidden things
  • noun
  • /ˌmæɡnəˈtɑːmətri/
  • Specialized
: magnetometría
  • Using magnetometry, researchers discovered buried structures without disturbing the site.

Examples

  • In their study, scientists utilized magnetometry to investigate anomalies in the Earth's magnetic field.

  • Other contractors, using ground-penetrating radar and magnetometry, had found disturbances in the soil worth investigating.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Currently, Stamos is combining her results with electrical resistivity, magnetometry, and geoacoustical surveys done by her team and others to begin to create a 3-D digital model of what Maggidis hopes will be Mycenae's buried Lower Town.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The team employed magnetometry to map the magnetic fields around the archaeological dig.

Surface Forms

magnetometry singular
magnetometries plural

Morphology

magnetometry = magnet (semi-transparent) = magnet + metry

The word is built from the recognizable base 'magnet' plus the scientific suffix '-metry', but the technical reference to measuring magnetic fields is specialized rather than fully everyday.

Etymology

Magnetometry comes from the parts magneto- meaning 'magnet' and -metry meaning 'measure', like in thermometer. So, magnetometry is the measuring of magnetic fields, which is why it means the scientific measurement of magnetic fields for research and exploration.