The separation of the geomagnetic field originated in the core, in the asthenosphere, and in the crust

oleh: X. Q. Gao, F. T. Gizzi, W. J. Dong, G. P. Gregori

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) 1999-06-01

Deskripsi

The separation of the field produced by different internal sources can be accomplished by means of the so-called spatial spectrum of the geomagnetic field of internal origin. It is shown how such a rationale, when suitably interpreted, allows to recognize the field that is originated by electric currents that flow either on the Inner-Core Boundary (ICB), or on the Core-Mantle Boundary (CMB), or on the Asthenosphere-Lithosphere Boundary (ALB). It appears crucial, however, to rely on satellite measurements alone, because ground-based and ship- and air-borne records are severely perturbed by the crustal field. Therefore, it is shown, on the basis of a critical reconsideration of a few key-papers in the literature, that the best approach is to avoid mixing together all kinds of measurements. Satellite data are best suited for recognizing the dynamo field, while ground-based, ship- and air-borne records, which are measured much closer to crustal sources, are best suited, after subtraction of the satellite-derived dynamo field, for inferring the geomagnetic anomalies that are to be associated with crustal sources alone.