Planetary dynamos

Busse, F.H. and Simitev, R.D. (2015) Planetary dynamos. In: Schubert, G. (ed.) Treatise on Geophysics [2nd ed.]. Elsevier B.V.: Oxford, pp. 239-254. ISBN 9780444538031 (doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-53802-4.00172-X)

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Publisher's URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978044453802400172X

Abstract

The theory of planetary dynamos and its applications to the observed phenomena of planetary magnetism are outlined. It is generally accepted that convection flows driven by thermal or compositional buoyancy are the most likely source for the sustenance of global planetary magnetic fields. The existence of dynamos in electrically conducting fluid cores of the planets provides constraints on properties of the latter. On the other hand, the lack of knowledge about the properties of the planetary cores, about the time dependence of their magnetic fields, and about their unobservable toroidal components together with the restricted parameter regions accessible in numerical simulations has prevented so far a full understanding of the phenomena of planetary magnetism.

Item Type:Book Sections
Status:Published
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Simitev, Professor Radostin
Authors: Busse, F.H., and Simitev, R.D.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Mathematics
Publisher:Elsevier B.V.
ISBN:9780444538031

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