Modelling Geomagnetic Polarity Transitions.

Abstract

Through paleomagnetic research, it has been found that the Earth's dipole moment alternates between two antiparallel polarity states, a normal state, in which the field at the surface is directed northward, and a reversed state in which the field has the opposite direction. From the analysis of several of these transitions two models have been proposed to describe the geomagnetic field during this period. In this study dipole models of the geomagnetic field, as derived by Alldredgee and Hurwitz (1964) and Alldredge and Stearns (1969), were used to study polarity transitions. The results tend to suggest that one model, not two, can explain all the effects observed during a transition.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1974
Accession Number
AD0785255

Entities

People

  • Edward Ramirez

Organizations

  • Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Dipole Moments
  • Transitions

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Mathematical Modeling and Probability Theory.
  • Oceanography.