UNNATIVIETNAMONALIVERSITY HCMC -

INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

The Earth Geodynamic

Stimulating

Student : Tran Nguyen Phuong An

Student ID : SESEIU22050
Lecturer : Prof. Phan Bao Ngoc
 I. The components of the Geodynamic of the Earth

In general, the Earth’s layer consists of three main layers (listed form inside out) : The Core, The Mantle
and the Crust. However, there is no magnetic field distributed on the Mantle layer, mainly because
Mantle consists of silicates substances which lead to the reduction in conductivity and convection rate.
Also, permanent magnetization does not exist in Mantle because of high temperature (above the Curie
Temperature for most of it’s components)

Figure 1 : Indicates the componential layers contribute the Earth

1.1.The Internal Field
1.1The crustal field

Apart from the Mantle, the temperature at the Crust is relatively cool enough for it’s materials
to possess solidity. These solid forms (ferromagnetism materials) may magnetized by Earth’s
main field and cause detectable anomalies
The crustal field is the magnetic field of the crust of the planetary object. The crustal layer
contain minerals in the continental crust, the abundant of iron and magnesium in the ocean
crust, which attribute the magnetization of the Earth’s magnetic field
There are two types of magnetization on the Crustal Field : Remanent Magnetization and the
Induced Magnetization.
Induced Magnetization occurs when the elementary magnetic dipoles of the crustal materials
are aligned by Earth’s main field. If a material of a particularly high susceptibility to
magnetization concentrated, then it can be approximated to be a bar of magnet that creates a
small dipole field. Because induced magnetization is proportional to the strength of the inducing
field, it vanishes when the primary field vanishes
Remanent Magnetization : this phenomena depends on the presence of ferromagnetic
materials that form a “Magnetic Domain”, regions of aligned dipoles held in place by
interatomic forces. In Earth, Crust most remanent magnetization, it create by trapping the
dipole alignment of Earth’s main field
1.2.The core field

The core field is generated by rapid motion of the electrically conducting iron(The outer core) in the
presence of the Earth’s magnetic field, this will induce a electric current and these electric current will
generate their own magnetic field.

We can consider the motion of this flow by induction equation :

∂B 2
=∇ × ( B × μ ) +η m ∇ B
∂t
The core field has following properties : 90% of this field at the Earth’s surface are dipole and the field is
inclined at 11 degree to the Earth’s spin axis. The remaining 10% in the non-dipole field (quadrupole and
octupole ). The strength of the core field varies from 0,25T to 0,65T. The thermal heating inside the inner
core led to the process that drives the fluid motion in the outer core. With time, the inner core freezes
onto the surface of solid form. The energy released from the freezing process heats the surrounding to
high temperature . The heat flows in all direction, raising the temperature of the outer core. This motion
is sustained by convection and buoyancy force.
The External Field

The strength of the Earth's magnetic field due to external sources, such as the atmosphere and
solar wind, is generally much weaker compared to the field generated by the internal
geodynamo. The variations in the external field also typically occur on shorter time scales.

External sources contribute to the Earth's magnetic field in several ways. One significant
contribution comes from electric currents in the ionosphere, which is the upper region of the
atmosphere where solar radiation ionizes the air. These electric currents create a secondary
magnetic field that adds to the overall magnetic field of the Earth.

Another important external source is the solar wind, which is a stream of charged particles,
mainly electrons and protons, emitted by the Sun. The solar wind carries its own magnetic field,
known as the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). When the IMF interacts with the Earth's
magnetic field, it compresses and distorts the magnetosphere, the region around the Earth
influenced by the Earth's magnetic field. This interaction leads to various phenomena, including
magnetic storms, auroras, and the formation of the Van Allen radiation belts.

Although the external sources contribute to the Earth's magnetic field, their effects are
generally smaller and more variable compared to the dominant internal geodynamo-generated
field. The internal field remains relatively stable over longer time scales, while the external field
can exhibit rapid changes due to solar activity, ionospheric disturbances, and other factors.
Scientists study these external variations and their impacts on Earth's magnetic field to gain a
better understanding of space weather and its potential effects on technology and
communication systems on Earth.
I. Solar Activities influenced the geomagnetic field
2.1.The effect of geomagnetic storm on the Earth’s environment
A geomagnetic storm is a significant disruption of the Earth's magnetosphere caused by a highly efficient
transfer of energy from the solar wind to the space surrounding our planet. These storms are most
intense when they are triggered by solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which involve the arrival of
billions of tons of plasma from the Sun along with its embedded magnetic field.

Figure 2 : A picture shows the effect of solar activities effect on the Earth’s magnetic field

During a geomagnetic storm, the interaction between the incoming solar wind and the Earth's magnetic
field leads to various effects. These include the compression and distortion of the magnetosphere, the
creation of strong electric currents in the ionosphere, and the generation of intense auroras in regions
close to the Earth's poles.

The severity of a geomagnetic storm is often measured using a scale called the K-index, which quantifies
the disturbance's magnitude. Geomagnetic storms can have significant impacts on various technological
systems and infrastructure, including power grids, satellite communications, and navigation systems.
They can induce electric currents in power lines, disrupt satellite operations, and cause inaccuracies in
GPS signals.

Scientists closely monitor geomagnetic storms to understand their causes, predict their occurrence, and
mitigate potential adverse effects. Space weather forecasting centers around the world provide alerts
and warnings to operators of critical systems to help them prepare for and mitigate the impacts of
geomagnetic storms.
2.2 The application of magnetometer on studying the motion of transient variations

In-situ and space-borne magnetometers are valuable tools for detecting and studying transient
variations in the Earth's magnetic field.

1. In-situ Magnetometers: In-situ magnetometers are deployed on the ground, in water, or on

instruments like buoys or submarines. They directly measure the magnetic field strength and direction at
a specific location. To detect transient variations, in-situ magnetometers continuously monitor the
magnetic field and record changes over time. When a transient event occurs, such as a geomagnetic
storm or a magnetic disturbance, the magnetometer registers the variations in the magnetic field
intensity and direction. These measurements can provide valuable information about the nature and
characteristics of the transient event.

2. Space-borne Magnetometers: Space-borne magnetometers are placed on satellites or spacecraft that

orbit the Earth or other celestial bodies. They provide a broader perspective by measuring the magnetic
field at different altitudes and locations. By having magnetometers on multiple satellites or spacecraft,
scientists can obtain a global view of the Earth's magnetic field and its variations. Space-borne
magnetometers are particularly useful for detecting large-scale transient variations, such as those caused
by solar activity or interactions between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere.

Space-borne magnetometers can be part of dedicated magnetic field missions, such as the European
Space Agency's Swarm mission or NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. These missions
deploy multiple satellites equipped with magnetometers, enabling comprehensive measurements of the
Earth's magnetic field and its transient variations. The data collected by space-borne magnetometers are
used to create models, maps, and visualizations of the magnetic field, including transient events.

By combining data from in-situ and space-borne magnetometers, scientists can gain a more complete
understanding of transient variations in the Earth's magnetic field. These measurements help in studying
the underlying physical processes, such as geomagnetic storms, substorms, magnetic reconnection, and
interactions with the solar wind. The information gathered through magnetometer measurements
contributes to our knowledge of space weather, which has implications for various technological
systems, including satellite communications, power grids, and navigation systems.

II. The process of mapping the Earth’s magnetic field

The code provided appears to be a MATLAB script that retrieves data from the Swarm mission's
magnetometers and maps the Earth's magnetic field. The code can follow the overview of the process:

1. Setting up initial parameters:

- `numdate`: Number of dates for which the data will be retrieved.
- `startdate`, `startmonth`, `startyear`: The starting date for data retrieval.

2. Defining variables:
- `month_with_31`: A vector containing months with 31 days.
- `lat`, `lon`, `B`: Empty arrays to store latitude, longitude, and magnetic field data.

3. Looping through the dates:

- The loop iterates `numdate` times, retrieving data for each date.
- The file name is constructed based on the date and stored in the `filename` variable.
- The `cdfread` function is used to read the data from the file, extracting the variables: 'Timestamp',
'Latitude', 'Longitude', and 'F'.
- The latitude, longitude, and magnetic field data are appended to the respective arrays.

4. Mapping the data:

- The `geoscatter` function is used to display the scatter plot of latitude and longitude values, with the
color representing the magnetic field strength (`B`).
- `colormap(jet(16))` sets the colormap to a jet colormap with 16 levels.
- `gca` retrieves the current axes handle.
- `geolimits` sets the limits of the longitude and latitude axes.
 - `colorbar` adds a colorbar to the plot, and `c.Label.String` sets the label for the colorbar.

The process of mapping the Earth's magnetic field using magnetometers on the Swarm constellation
involves retrieving data from the magnetometers on each satellite and then mapping that data to create
visual representations of the magnetic field strength across the Earth's surface.

The Swarm mission consists of three satellites (Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie) that are equipped with
magnetometers. These magnetometers measure the Earth's magnetic field strength at various locations
as the satellites orbit the Earth. The data collected by these magnetometers is stored and made available
for scientific analysis.

To map the magnetic field, the script reads the data from the files corresponding to each day and
extracts the latitude, longitude, and magnetic field strength values. The `geoscatter` function is then
used to create a scatter plot, where each point represents a location on Earth, and the color of the point
represents the magnetic field strength at that location.

The `colormap`, `geolimits`, and `colorbar` functions are used to enhance the visualization of the data.
The colormap sets the color scheme for the scatter plot, the geolimits function sets the limits for the
latitude and longitude axes, and the colorbar function adds a colorbar to the plot, allowing for the
interpretation of the color-coding.

Overall, this script retrieves the data from Swarm magnetometers and visualizes the Earth's magnetic
field strength using MATLAB's mapping functions.

Figure 3 : Shows the scatter map of the magnitude of the magnetic field on 17/12/2013
 Figure 4 : Shows the distribution of magnetic field on the world map from 1/12/2013 to 20/12/2013

3.1 Explain the topology of the geomagnetic field

The geomagnetic field can be divided into two main components: the internal field and the outer field.

1. Internal Field:
The internal field comprises the dipole field, crustal field, and non-dipole field. The dipole field
represents the simplest form of a magnetic field with two opposite poles, and it approximates the
Earth's magnetic field as if there were a bar magnet at the planet's center aligned with its rotational axis.
However, the actual field includes more complex components, such as the crustal field generated by
magnetized rocks in the Earth's crust and upper mantle. The non-dipole field consists of quadrupole,
octupole, and higher-order components, reflecting the distortions caused by dynamo processes in the
Earth's outer core.

2. Outer Field:
The outer field encompasses ionospheric currents and magnetospheric currents. Ionospheric currents
flow in the ionosphere, a plasma region ionized by solar radiation, and they are induced by the
interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field. Magnetospheric currents, on the
other hand, occur within the magnetosphere, the area surrounding Earth dominated by the planet's
magnetic field. These currents include the ring current, which flows in the equatorial plane of the
magnetosphere, the tail current in the magnetotail, and field-aligned currents that connect the
magnetosphere with the ionosphere.

Understanding the geomagnetic field's topology, consisting of the internal field and outer field, is crucial
for studying various phenomena and their effects, ranging from the Earth's magnetic navigation and
paleomagnetism to space weather forecasting and the occurrence of auroras.

3.2. Identify and explain the South Atlantic Anomaly

The South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) is a region where Earth's inner Van Allen radiation belt comes closest
to the planet's surface, reaching an altitude of around 200 kilometers (120 miles). This area exhibits an
increased influx of energetic particles, exposing orbiting satellites, including the International Space
Station (ISS), to higher levels of ionizing radiation.

The SAA's existence is attributed to the non-concentricity of Earth and its magnetic dipole. If we imagine
Earth's magnetism as a strong bar magnet of small size ("magnetic dipole"), the SAA variation can be
visualized by placing the magnet slightly north of the Equator, shifted in the direction of Singapore.
Consequently, over northern South America and the South Atlantic, near the antipodal point of
Singapore, the magnetic field is relatively weaker compared to an idealized Earth-centered dipole field.
This weaker field results in reduced repulsion of trapped particles from the radiation belts, allowing
them to penetrate deeper into the upper atmosphere than they would in other regions.

The South Atlantic Anomaly arises from two characteristics of Earth's core: the tilt of its magnetic axis
and the flow of molten metals within its outer core. As the motion of the core changes over time due to
complex geodynamic conditions within the core and at its boundary with the solid mantle, the magnetic
field fluctuates in space and time. These dynamic processes in the core propagate outward, affecting the
magnetic field surrounding the planet and generating features such as the SAA. The magnetic poles also
experience tilt and drift over time as a result. These changes in the field, occurring on a similar time scale
to the convection of metals in the outer core, provide scientists with valuable insights to understand the
dynamics of the Earth's core, known as the geodynamic.

Figure 5 : The Van Allen belts structure

IV. The resolutions of the magnetometer in solving and predicting solar weather

Spacecraft magnetometers play a crucial role in scientific investigations, attitude sensing, and space
weather prediction. These instruments are commonly used aboard spacecraft and satellites, providing
valuable data for understanding the geomagnetic field and its variations.

For example, NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) carry magnetometers
to monitor the geomagnetic field and its changes. The GOES satellites are positioned in Earth's
equatorial plane, approximately 6.6 Earth radii from the planet's center. The magnetometer
measurements from these satellites have been instrumental in mapping the Van Allen radiation belts,
which are regions of charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field.

The data from spacecraft magnetometers, particularly GOES magnetometer data, are essential for
interpreting energetic particle measurements and issuing alerts related to geomagnetic storms. These
storms, known as sudden storm commencements, involve the buildup and release of energy in Earth's
magnetosphere. By monitoring the geomagnetic field, forecasters can identify the onset of geomagnetic
storms and substorms, helping to predict space weather events. The magnetic field measurements also
aid in identifying when the solar wind pushes the boundary of the magnetosphere, called the
magnetopause, inside the geosynchronous orbit. Such conditions typically occur during highly disturbed
space weather, and this information is crucial for spacecraft operations.

In addition to operational applications, GOES magnetometer data are widely used in research by the
national and international solar and space weather research community. Researchers use these data to
support launch decisions for research sounding rockets and validate large-scale space environment
models that simulate the coupled magnetosphere and ionosphere. The Space Weather Prediction Center
(SWPC) is actively working on implementing such a model in the near future.

Figure 6 : The data of the magnetic field of the Earth recorded by GOES’s magnetometer

V. Reference
https://www.maine.gov/mema/maine-prepares/preparedness-library/geomagnetic-
storms#:~:text=While%20the%20storms%20create%20a,index%20called%20Kp%20is
%20observed.

https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/earths-magnetic-field-origin-structure-and-
impact-on-humanity/#
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Atlantic_Anomaly#:~:text=The%20effect%20is
%20caused%20by,idealized%20Earth%2Dcentered%20dipole%20field.
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/icon/nasa-researchers-track-slowly-splitting-dent-in-earths-
magnetic-field/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacecraft_magnetometer#:~:text=Magnetometers%20were
%20taken%20to%20the,coil%20and%20ionized%20gas%20magnetometers.
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/goes-magnetometer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_storm