THE EARTH MAGNETICS FIELD

M.Sc. Programme of Earth Sciences Institute of Technology Bandung 2005

Overview
I. II. III. IV. V. Introduction The Field of Uniformly Magnetized Sphere The Origin of The Earths Magnetic Field The Earths Magnetic Field At The CoreMantle Boundary Reversals of The Earths Magnetic Field

I. Introduction

Magnetics Field Component

Magnetics Field Component

H= F cos I

Z= F sin I
Tan I= Z/H X= H cos D Y= H sin D Tan D= Y/X F2 = H2 + Z2 = X2 + Y2 + Z2

World map showing contours of equal inclination(isogonics) in degrees for 1980. Contours interval 5o

World map showing of equal inclination (isoclinics) in degrees for 1980. Contours interval 10o for -40 I 40o and 5o for I 40o

Two Types of Temporal Changes of Magnetic Field Over The Earth

1. Transient Fluctuation
- No enduring changes in the earth fields - Arises from causes outside the earth

2. Secular Changes
- Due to causes within the earth - Over a long period of time

Secular Change of Declination and Inclination at London, Boston and Baltimore

World Map showing contours of rate in intensity (Isopors) of the vertical componen Z for 1987. Contour interval 20 nT per year

II. The Field of A Uniformly Magnetized Sphere

William Gilbert, before 1600 revealed that :

- The earth behaved substantially as uniformly magnetized sphere - Its magnetic field being due to causes within the earth

Gauss, 1839 revealed that :

The field of a uniformly magnetized sphere which is the same as that of a dipole at its centre is an excellent first approximation to the Earths magnetic field

II. The Field of A Uniformly Magnetized Sphere

The variation of physical parameters over sphere are most easily expressed using Spherical Harmonic Analyis.They are used in the treatment of gravity,seismology, heat transfer and magnetic field. No detailed of such a representation will be attempted here. It must be stressed that spherical harmonic analysis is just a mathematical convinence for describing global variations and does not necessarily have any physical significance

II. The Field of A Uniformly Magnetized Sphere

F= (H2+Z2)1/2= o.m(1+3cos2)1/2/4r3
Intensity measurement are the function of latitude

III. Origin of The Earth Magnetics Field

self-exciting dynamo in the Earths molten outer core (Bullard, 1949) fluid motions (convection cells) induce magnetic fields (magnetohydrodynamics)
molten Fe and Ni, excellent conductors

IV. The Earth Magnetic Field At The Core Mantle Boundary (CMB) Measurement of the field at the surface can be extrapolated to the CMB by a spherical Harmonic Analysis

Models of the magnetic field at the CMB at selected epoch from 1751 to 1980 (Bloxham and Gubbins,1985):
i. static flux bundles (permanent regions of intense flux observed under Arctic Canada, Siberia and Antartica, the central Pasific Ocean and The Persian ii. Static zero-flux patches (permanent regions of very low flux observed at the North Pole, under Easter Island, in the northen Pacific Ocean, and in many model near the south pole iii. Rapidly drifting flux spots (observed in the southern hemisphere from around 90o, drifting westward towards South America with changes in intensity iv. Localized field oscilations (such as that under Indonesia)

IV. The Earth Magnetic Field At The Core Mantle Boundary

Contours plots of the radial field at the CMB. Contours interval is 100 T. Solid contours represent flukx into the core broken contours flukx out of the core. The bold contpurs represent zero radial field (Bloxham and Gubbins,1985)

Map of The Radial Component of The Magnetic Field for CMB 1980. Contour interval is 100 T;Solid contours represent flux into the core, broken contour flux out of the core; bold contours represent zero radial field. The two main pairs of lobes (1,3) and (2,4) are indicated, as are the patches of low radial field (5 and 6) near the poles (after Gubbins and Bloxham, 1987)

Convection Rolls In A Rapidly Rotating Sphere

IV. REVERSALS OF THE EARTHS MAGNETIC FIELD

Correlation of Magnetic Stratigraphy in Seven Cores From Antartic. Greek letters denote faunal zone. Inset: Source of cores (after, Opdyke et.al 1966)

Timescale For Geomagnetic Reversals.Each short horizontal lines shows the gae as determined by potassium-argon dating and the magnetic polarity (normal or reversed) of one of volcanic cooling unit. Normal polarity intervals are shown by the solid portions of the field normal column and reversed polarity intervals by the solid portions of the field reversed column. The duration of events is based in part on paleomagnetic data from sediment and magnetic profiles (After Cox, 1969)

Inclination of Short-Period Events in a Deep-Sea Core From The Southern Ocean. Polarity log at right, clear is reversed (After Watkins,1968)

Polarity Bias of The Geomagnetic Field During The Phanerozoic.Overlapping 50 Ma averages of polarity ratios as observed in paleomagnetic result are shown together with the limits of the standard error (After Irving and Pullaiah, 1976)

Estimated Mean Reversal Rate From Present Back To 165 MA (After Mcrill and Mc Fadden, 1990)

Geomagnetic Virtual Dipole Moment, Paleosecular Variation and Reversal Chronology Since The Triassic. Numbers by the dots are number of chronological units. On the polarity timescale, normal periods are black and reversed periods white(After Prevort et.al. 1990)

CARBON STORAGE IN PEATLANDS

Peatland C stores (t C/ha) Soil Biomass ND 500 120 C Absorption 0.2-0.5 0.3-0.9 0.17-0.29

Global
Tropics

1181-1537 1700-1600 1300

Temperate
Source : Parish (2002)

PEATLANDS AS A SOURCE OF CO2

 Earths Magnetic Field : Source

self-exciting dynamo in the Earths molten outer core fluid motions (convection cells) induce magnetic fields (magnetohydrodynamics)
molten Fe and Ni, excellent conductors

energy source
radioactive decay gravitational energy (sinking of heavy particles)

 Earths Magnetic Field : Model

Resembles a uniformly magnetized sphere A simple dipole (bar magnet)

Paleomagnetism
History of the geomagnetic field
magnetic remanence
a fossil magnetization recorded during formation and deposition of natural materials thermoremanence magnetization - acquisition of geomagnetic field direction at time of cooling below Curie temperature depositional remanence magnetization - alignment of magnetic minerals/grains with the geomagnetic field

records dipole and non-dipole field orientations

basis of magnetostratigraphy : reversals, excursions, and secular variation

Magnetostratigraphy
Polarity reversals
frequent, but highly irregular, reversals of the geomagnetic field globally isochronous recorded in sediments and mid-ocean ridge basalts useful for global dating and correlation

Paleomagnetism
Dipole approximation best fit to Earths actual field geocentric axial dipole (GAD) tan I = 2 tan D = 0o everywhere as much as 20% difference between dipole approximation and actual field non-dipole field (regional, short term variability) Earths magnetic field is a vector three elements at any point in time and space declination inclination intensity

Magnetostratigraphy
Secular Variation
difference between GAD approximation and actual field (non-dipole field) temporal variations on timescales of 102-106 years useful for dating and correlation purposes all three elements (decliantion, inclination, intensity) are reproducible on a regional scale of 3000-5000 km.
50 Northeastern U.S Stacke d Inclination 60 70 80 0

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