Toroidal flux oscillations as possible causes of geomagnetic excursions and reversals

Busse, F.H. and Simitev, R.D. (2008) Toroidal flux oscillations as possible causes of geomagnetic excursions and reversals. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 168(3-4), pp. 237-243. (doi: 10.1016/j.pepi.2008.06.007)

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Abstract

It is proposed that convection driven dynamos operating in planetary cores could be oscillatory even when the oscillations are not directly noticeable from the outside. Examples of dynamo simulations are pointed out that exhibit oscillations in the structure of the azimuthally averaged toroidal magnetic flux while the mean poloidal field shows only variations in its amplitude. In the case of the geomagnetic field, global excursions may be associated with these oscillations. Long period dynamo simulations indicate that the oscillations may cause reversals once in a while. No special attempt has been made to use most realistic parameter values. Nevertheless some similarities between the simulations and the paleomagnetic record can be pointed out.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Simitev, Professor Radostin
Authors: Busse, F.H., and Simitev, R.D.
Subjects:Q Science > QA Mathematics
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Mathematics
Journal Name:Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors
Journal Abbr.:Phys. Earth Planet. Inter.
ISSN:0031-9201
ISSN (Online):1872-7395
Published Online:14 June 2008

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