Towards Realistic Global Geomagnetic Induction Modeling Using Scripted Finite Element Methods

We present recent progress in forward modeling the global induction problem with realistic external field structure, 3D Earth conductivity, and rotation. The modeling is performed in the time and frequency domains via a commercially-available, general-purpose, finite element modeling package called FlexPDE, and has been validated against known solutions to 3D steady state and time-dependent problems. The induction problem is formulated in terms of the magnetic vector potential and electric scalar potential, and mesh density is managed both explicitly and through adaptive mesh refinement. The modeling routine allows for arbitrary conductivity and external field structure. The strength of the external magnetic field generated by the magnetospheric ring current is known to vary as a function of local time, giving it an asymmetric spatial structure. Electromagnetic c-responses estimated from satellite data are known to be biased with respect to local time. We investigate the influence that Earth's rotation through the non-uniform external field should have on these c-responses.