Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

A three-dimensional self-consistent computer simulation of a geomagnetic field reversal

Nature volume 377, pages 203–209 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

A three-dimensional, self-consistent numerical model of the geodynamo is described, that maintains a magnetic field for over 40,000 years. The model, which incorporates a finitely conducting inner core, undergoes several polarity excursions and then, near the end of the simulation, a successful reversal of the dipole moment. This simulated magnetic field reversal shares some features with real reversals of the geomagnetic field, and may provide insight into the geomagnetic reversal mechanism.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Elsasser, W. M. Phys. Rev. 72, 821–833 (1947).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Parker, E. N. Astrophys. J. 122, 293–314 (1955).

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. Merrill, R. T. & McElhinny, M. W. The Earth's Magnetic Field (Academic, London, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cowling, T. G. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 94, 34–48 (1934).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Roberts, P. H. & Soward, A. M. A. Rev. Fluid Mech. 24, 459–512 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Braginsky, S. I. & Roberts, P. H. Geophys. astrophys. Fluid Dyn. 38, 327–349 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Olson, P. Geophys. Res. Lett. 16, 613–616 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Barenghi, C. F. & Jones, C. A. Geophys. astrophys. Fluid Dyn. 60, 211–243 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hollerbach, R. & Jones, C. A. Nature 365, 541–543 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Glatzmaier, G. A. & Roberts, P. H. J. Geomag. Geoelectr. 45, 1605–1616 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Nakajima, T. & Roberts, P. H. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 448, 1–28 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Pekeris, C. L., Accad,, Y. & Shkoller, B. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A 275, 425–461 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kumar, S. & Roberts, P. H. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 314, 235–258 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Gubbins, D. & Sarson, G. Nature 368, 51–55 (1994).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Zhang, K. K. & Busse, F. H. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 59, 208–222 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Arter, W. Geophys. astrophys. Fluid Dyn. 31, 311–344 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Matthews, P. C. in Solar and Planetary Dynamos (eds Proctor, M. R. E., Matthews, P. C. & Rucklidge, A. M.) 211–218 (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1993).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Fearn, D. R., Proctor, M. R. E. & Sellar, C. C. Geophys. astrophys. Fluid Dyn. 77, 111–132 (1994).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Olson, P. & Glatzmaier, G. A. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. (in the press).

  20. Meneguzzi, M. & Pouquet, A. J. Fluid Mech. 205, 297–318 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Brandenburg, A., Nordlund, A., Pulkkinen, P., Stein, R. F. & Tuominen, I. Astr. Astrophys. 232, 277–291 (1990).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Nordlund, A. et al. Astrophys. J. 392, 647–652 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. St Pierre, M. G. in Solar and Planetary Dynamos (eds Proctor, M. R. E., Matthews, P. C. & Rucklidge, A. M.) 295–302 (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1993).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Gilman, P. A. & Miller, J. Astrophys. J. Suppl. 46, 211–238 (1981).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Gilman, P. A. Astrophys. J. Suppl. 53, 243–268 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Glatzmaier, G. A. J. comput Phys. 55, 461–484 (1984).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Glatzmaier, G. A. Astrophys. J. 291, 300–307 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Glatzmaier, G. A. Geophys. astrophys. Fluid Dyn. 31, 137–150 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Kageyama, A. et al. Phys. Plasmas 2, 1421–1431 (1995).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Glatzmaier, G. A. & Roberts, P. H. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 91, 63–76 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. Rikitake, T. Proc. Camb. phil. Soc. 54, 89–105 (1966).

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  32. Bloxham, J. & Gubbins, D. Nature 317, 777–781 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Cain, J. C., Wang, Z., Schmitz, D. R. & Meyer, J. Geophys. J. 97, 443–447 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Langel, R. in Geomagnetism (ed. Jacobs, J. A.) Vol. 1, 249–512 (Academic, San Diego, 1987).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Coe, R. S., Prevot, M. & Camps, P. Nature 374, 687–692 (1995).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Hoffman, K. A. Nature 359, 789–794 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Opdyke, N. D., Kent, D. V. & Lowrie, W. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 20, 315–324 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Kristjansson, L. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 80, 57–71 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. Tric, E. et al. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 65, 319–336 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  40. Clement, B. M. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 104, 48–58 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Laj, C., Mazaud, A., Weeks, R., Fuller, M. & Herrero-Bervera, E. Nature 351, 447 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Ratcliff, C. D., Geissman, J. W., Perry, F. V., Crowe, B. M. & Zeitler, P. K. Science 266, 412–416 (1994).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. Langeres, C. G., van Hoof, A. A. M. & Rochette, P. Nature 358, 226–230 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  44. Valet, J.-P., Tuchloka, P., Courtillot, V. & Meynadier, L. Nature 356, 400–407 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. McFadden, P. L., Barton, C. E. & Merrill, R. T. Nature 361, 342–344 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Prevot, M. & Camps, P. Nature 366, 53–57 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. McFadden, P. L. & Merrill, R. T. J. geophys. Res. 100, 307–316 (1995).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. Runcorn, S. K. Nature 356, 654–656 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  49. Clement, B. M. & Stixrude, L. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 130, 75–85 (1995).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Valet, J.-P. & Meynadier, L. Nature 366, 234–238 (1993).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. Clement, B. M. & Kent, D. V. Geophys. Res. Lett. 18, 81–84 (1991).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87454, USA

    Gary A. Glatzmaiers

  2. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90024, USA

    Paul H. Roberts

Authors
  1. Gary A. Glatzmaiers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paul H. Roberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Glatzmaiers, G., Roberts, P. A three-dimensional self-consistent computer simulation of a geomagnetic field reversal. Nature 377, 203–209 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/377203a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/377203a0

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing