Ocean signals in Earth's magnetic field (OceanMag-II)

• Applicant: Dr. Jan Saynisch-Wagner
• Subject Area: Oceanography
• Term: from 2015 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 273552555

Due to their ability to store (and release) large amounts of heat, theworld oceans are a crucial part of Earth's climate system. Inaddition, the oceans store salt which makes them a good electricconductor. Characteristic electromagnetic (EM) signals are the result.Traditionally, EM signals from ocean tides and ocean circulation arestudied separately. Both signals are sensitive to different physicalproperties of the oceans. While the EM anomalies of the oceancirculation originate in ocean velocity changes, the EM ocean tideanomalies are dominated by ocean temperature changes. In the proposedproject we aim to use tidal and circulatory EM observations together,i.e., synergetically, to derive information of the ocean. Globalcirculation signals were characterized and assimilated duringOceanMag-I. In this proposal (OceanMag-II) we want to characterize andassimilate the ocean tidal signals. In the end we aim for a jointinversion of both systems. Throughout the project, findings will bevalidated against independent, in parts proxy-based observations.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1788: Study of Earth system dynamics with a constellation of potential field missions