The earth's magnetic field: Its history, origin and planetary perspective
Abstract
The history of geomagnetism and palaeomagnetism is examined, and an analysis and description of the present geomagnetic field is presented. The magnetic compass is discussed along with declination, inclination, secular variation, magnetic charts and the search for the poles, fossil magnetism and the magnetic field in the past, transient magnetic variations regarding the external magnetic field, the origin of the earth's magnetic field, magnetic elements and charts, a spherical harmonic analysis description of the earth's magnetic field, uniqueness and other mathematical problems, geomagnetic secular variation, and the external magnetic field. Other topics explored are elated to the fundamentals of palaeomagnetism, palaeomagnetic observations regarding the recent geomagnetic field, reversals of the earth's magnetic field, the time-averaged palaeomagnetic field, the origin of the earth's magnetic field, advanced dynamo theory, the origin of secular variation and field reversals, lunar magnetism, and magnetic fields of the sun, planets, and meteorites.
- Publication:
-
International Geophysics Series
- Pub Date:
- 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983InGeo..32.....M
- Keywords:
-
- Earth (Planet);
- Geomagnetism;
- Magnetic Fields;
- Paleomagnetism;
- Planetary Magnetic Fields;
- Solar Magnetic Field;
- Dynamo Theory;
- Lunar Magnetic Fields;
- Magnetic Dipoles;
- Magnetic Field Configurations;
- Magnetohydrodynamics;
- Meteorites;
- Petrology;
- Planetary Evolution;
- Secular Variations;
- Spherical Harmonics