Open AccessA Model of the Geodynamo
Author(s) -
Busse F. H.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1975.tb05871.x
Subject(s) - dynamo , dynamo theory , lorentz force , physics , earth's magnetic field , outer core , rotation (mathematics) , classical mechanics , inner core , core (optical fiber) , convection , magnetohydrodynamics , lorentz transformation , magnetic field , mechanics , toroidal and poloidal , toroid , toroidal field , geophysics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , plasma , optics
Summary The problem of the generation of the geomagnetic field by convection in the Earth's core is considered. The complete hydromagnetic problem including the Lorentz force is solved in the case of a cylindrical configuration. Because of the dominant effect of rotation this configuration incorporates the essential features of the dynamo process in the Earth's core. The results show general agreement with the known properties of geomagnetism and the Earth's core. It is found that the toroidal field in the core is of the same order of magnitude as the poloidal field. This result is consistent with the basic assumption of theory that the Lorentz force is small compared to the Coriolis force.