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Semester 2
Geomagnetism (EASC10036)
Subject
Earth Science
College
SCE
Credits
10
Normal Year Taken
4
Delivery Session Year
2023/2024
Pre-requisites
It is RECOMMENDED that students have covered vector calculus, and ideally also the basics of electromagnetism.
Course Summary
The course covers 4 topics:1. The spatial and temporal characteristics of the geomagnetic field.2. Theories of the origin of the geomagnetic field.3. The solar atmosphere and the solar wind.4. Applications of geomagnetism.
Course Description
Lecture 1: Introduction, sources of magnetic data.Lecture 2: Potential representation, spherical harmonics.Lecture 3: Internal/external fields, spherical harmonic analysis, IGRF/DGRF, geocentric dipole.Lecture 4: Non-dipole field, source spectrum and characteristics, Risk to technology.Lecture 5: Introduction to time variations of internal field and sources of data, Observatory records, secular variation.Lecture 6: Magnetic properties of rocks, paleomagnetism, archaeomagnetism, lake sediment records, normal and reversed NRM, field reversal, interpretation of geology from crustal field maps.Lecture 7: Reversal time-scale, lava flows, deep ocean sediments, marine magnetic anomalies, ancient fieldLecture 8: Theories of the origin of the earth's magnetic field, disk dynamo.Lecture 9: Maxwell's equations, quasi-static approximation.Lecture 10: Application of magnetohydrodynamics to the core, diffusion and frozen flux approximations, magnetic Reynolds number.Lecture 11: Dynamo theory, effect, kinematic dynamo problem.Lecture 12: Navier-Stokes equation, steady slow motion solution, Proudman-Taylor theorem, weak and strong field dynamos.Lecture 13: Energy sources for the geodynamo.Lecture 14: Disk Dynamos and Reversals.Lecture 15: Solar atmosphere and wind.Lecture 16: Solar magnetic field, solar cycle and the solar wind structure.
Assessment Information
Written Exam 70%, Coursework 30%, Practical Exam 0%
Additional Assessment Information
Written Exam: 70%, Course Work: 30%, Practical Exam: 0%.Assessment DeadlinesCourse Work: Tuesday of Flexible Learning Week (after Week 5)Written Exam Semester 2, May Exam Diet
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