INTERMAGNET (International Real-time Magnetic Observatory Network) was created in order to establish a worldwide network of cooperating digital magnetic observatories. Those observatories agree to adopt modern standard specifications for measuring and recording equipment and to exchange data in close to real time. Moreover,INTERMAGNET extends technical support for maintaining and upgrading existing magnetic observatories as well as for establishing new ones. INTERMAGNET defines standards for the measurement and recording of the geomagnetic field, considering the state of the art (see Observatories, instrumentation). INTERMAGNET is constituted from existing groups whose task is geomagnetic observatory measurement. The abbreviation IMO is used to indicate an INTERMAGNET Magnetic Observatory (Green et al.; 1998).