I'm wondering if the LSM303DLHC magnetometer/Accelerometer is sensitive enough to monitor changes in the earth's magnetic field during CMEs, solar flares and similar events. These could be varied by checking with spaceweather.com. Has anyone tried this?
What are the expected variations in the local magnetic field, due to solar events?
How do those compare with the sensitivity of the magnetometer, as stated in the data sheet?
According to a NASA article poetry space science activities: An inexpensive magnetometer by Dr. Sten Odenwald, solar events can cause a few degrees deflection of the earth's magnetic field. A simple "Jam-Jar" magnetometer can show these changes as deflection of a suspended magnet in a jar. The resolution of the LSM303 should be enough to see this.
Yes, that should work, and be much easier to monitor than a suspended magnet.
Try it and let us know how well it works!
For monitoring the magnetometer/Arduino output, I would recommend the Jamaseis software on a PC, similar to its classroom use for Arduino "slinky seismometers". It automatically timestamps the data and keeps long term records in a convenient format.