Detailseite
Projekt
Numerical dynamo simulations with coupling between inner core, outer core and mantle
Antragsteller
Professor Dr. Ulrich Christensen
Fachliche Zuordnung
Physik des Erdkörpers
Förderung
Förderung von 2000 bis 2005
Projektkennung
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 5249650
The Earth`s magnetic field is created by a dynamo process in the outer core, driven by thermal and chemical convection. Recent numerical dynamo simulations can reproduce the main features of the geomagnetic field, for example the dipole dominance, but other important aspects, such as the character of secular variation or field reversals, have not been fully explored. The magnitude and distribution of the heat flow out of the core is controlled by lower mantle structure and dynamics. This thermal coupling to the mantle could lead to long-lived non-zonal structures in the geomagnetic field, preferred paths of the virtual geomagnetic pole during reversals, and may affect the reversal frequency. Previous models that addressed thermal coupling employed simplifying assumptions and covered a restricted parameter range. The aim of this proposal is to explore the role of thermal core-mantle coupling systematically in a fully self-consistent numerical dynamo model. We expect a better understanding of the structure and temporal variation of the geomagnetic field in normal periods and possibly new insights into the mechanism of the reversal process.
DFG-Verfahren
Schwerpunktprogramme
