On the comparison of laboratory electromagnetic analogue model measurements and finite-difference numerical calculations

This work compares experimental analogue model measurements and finite-difference numerical calculations of the electric and magnetic fields for the cases of induction in a highly conducting plate and wedge embedded in a poorly conducting host earth. The results indicate very good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results and confirm the validity of the analogue and numerical methods for studying complex induction problems.     

Analogue model measurements for a horizontal magnetic dipole embedded within a conducting medium

The validity of an analogue model method employing a horizontal magnetic dipole source situated within a conducting layer for the cases of a poorly conducting model earth and a highly conducting model ocean is studied by comparing model magnetic field measurements with theoretical calculations. The model is then used to study one example for each case; the response of a conducting cylinder simulating an ore body embedded in the earth, and the response of a conducting wedge simulating a shelving ocean.     

Electromagnetic induction in the San Juan Bay region of Vancouver Island

The response of the electric and magnetic field variations over the San Juan Bay region of Vancouver Island is studied using a scaled laboratory analogue model. The laboratory frequencies simulate periods of 10 and 100 s in the geophysical problem. The model results indicate that, for both E- and H-polarization of the source field, induced current in the ocean is deflected around Cape Flattery and channelled into the Juan de Fuca Strait. With increasing period, the proportion of current channelled into the Strait decreases sharply. Induced current in the strait is also funnelled into San Juan Bay, a finger-shaped bay ca. 4 km wide and 7.5 km long, for both polarizations of the source field. The effect of the Bay on the field response is confined to the local region, within approximately 6 km of the centre of the Bay. Good agreement between field station and analogue model H_z results was obtained for the San Juan Bay. The behaviour of the Parkinson arrow for these two stations is examined with the aid of the analogue model results.     

INDUCTION ANOMALY DUE TO AN ELONGATED COVERED ORE-ZONE EXCITED BY A LONG CURRENT CARRYING CABLE*

A detailed analysis of the electromagnetic anomaly due to an elongated mineralized zone of low resistivity in presence of a fixed-transmitter (a long cable carrying an, alternating current Ie^Iωt) is presented where (i) the host rock is not highly resistive and might contain some disseminated mineralization, (ii) the ore-body has an inhomogeneous conductivity, (iii) there is a contrast in magnetic properties of the ore-body and the host rocks, and (iv) source is close to the conducting system i.e., anomalous zone is lying shallow. The numerical computation of the generalized analytical expressions have been made. The selective screening behaviour of the cover is delineated and suitable frequency ranges for maximum detectability of a covered conductor have been obtained. A paradoxical decrease of the in-phase component of the response function with the increase of the core conductivity has been found for large conductivities of the cover. For moderate values of response parameter the inhomogeneity in the conductivity is found to significantly affect the induced field. The present analysis of the various features of the secondary field will aid to the existing interpretation sensitivity of the induction prospecting data for porphyry conducting ore deposits with zonal wall-rock alteration and sulphide distributions.     

Analogue model studies of induction effects at auroral latitudes

In addition to field observations and numerical models, geomagnetic induction effects can be studied by scaled analogue model experiments. We present here results of analogue model studies of the auroral electrojet with an Earth model simulating the Arctic Ocean and inland conductivity structures in northern Fennoscandia. The main elements of the analogue model used were salt water simulating the host rock, an aluminium plate corresponding to the ocean and graphite pieces producing the inland highly conducting anomalies. The electrojet was a time-harmonic line current flowing at a (simulated) height of 100 km above northern Fennoscandia. The period simulated was 9 min.The analogue model results confirmed the well-known rapid increase of the vertical field when the coast is approached from the continent. The increase of the horizontal field due to induced ocean currents was demonstrated above the ocean, as well as the essentially negligible effect of these currents on the horizontal field on the continent.The behaviour of the magnetic field is explained with a simple two-dimensional thin-sheet model. The range, or the adjustment distance, of the ocean effect inland was found to be some hundreds of kilometers, which also agrees with earlier results of the Siebert-Kertz separation of IMAGE magnetometer data. The modelled inland anomalies evidently had too large conductivities, but on the other hand, their influence decayed on scales of only some tens of kilometers.Analogue model results, thin-sheet calculations, and field observations show that the induction effect on the horizontal magnetic field B_x near the electrojet is negligible. On the other hand, the vertical component B_z is clearly affected by induced currents in the ocean. Evidence of this is the shift of the zero point of B_z 0-1° southwards from the maximum of B_x. The importance of these results are discussed, emphasizing the determination of ionospheric currents.     

Laboratory analogue modelling of the Schumann Resonance source field

An oscillating vertical line current source was used in the laboratory to simulate the naturally occurring 8 Hz Schumann Resonance field due to lightning strokes. Vertical to horizontal magnetic field ratios (coast effect), and magnetotelluric ratios, for traverses over a laboratory model of the Assistance Bay region of Cornwallis Island (N.W.T. Canada) for the vertical line current source field are compared with those for an overhead uniform source field. The E- and H-polarizations of the source fields used are defined as the cases of the horizontal magnetic field of the source roughly perpendicular and parallel to the general coastline, respectively.The magnetic field ratios are essentially identical for the two field sources for E-polarization, but differ by a factor of approximately two for H-polarization, with the ratios greater for the overhead source than for the vertical line current source. The magnetotelluric ratios are found to be identical for the two field sources of each of the E- and H-polarizations.     

An analogue model study of electromagnetic induction in the Tasmania region

Laboratory analogue model magnetic measurements are carried out for a model of the region including Tasmania, Bass Strait with its highly conductive deep sedimentary basins, and the south coast of mainland Australia. The model source frequencies used simulate naturally occurring geomagnetic variations of periods 5–120 min. In-phase and quadrature magnetic H_x, H_y and H_z field measurements for the modelled region are presented for an approximately uniform overhead horizontal source field for E-polarization (electric field of the source in the N-S direction) and for H-polarization (electric field of the source in the E-W direction). Large anomalous in-phase and quadrature model magnetic fields are observed over Bass Strait and the coastal regions at short periods for both E- and H-polarization, but with increasing period, the field anomalies decrease more rapidly for E-polarization, than for H-polarization. The difference in response with polarization for the Bass Strait region is attributed to current induced in the deep ocean, for all periods, being channelled through Bass Strait for H-polarization but not for E-polarization. The persistent large coastal field anomalies elsewhere, for H-polarization, can be accounted for by the coastal current concentrations due to currents induced in the deep ocean for all periods deflected to the south and to the north by the shelving sea-floor and channelled through Bass Strait and around the southern coast of Tasmania. The phenomena of current deflection and channelling for H-polarization for the geometry of the southern Australia coastline and associated ocean bathymetry is particularly effective in producing field anomalies for a large period range.The coastal horizontal H_x and H_y field anomalies, present for E-polarization at short periods and for H-polarization at all periods, do not extend far inland, and thus, for inland station sites somewhat removed from the coast, should not present serious problems for magnetic soundings in field work. The sharp vertical field (H_z) gradient over Tasmania at short periods, which is predominantly in the E-W direction for E-polarization and the N-S direction for H-polarization, is strongly frequency dependent, becoming almost undetectable at 60 min. The behaviour of the H_z field gradients, however, are very similar from traverse to traverse over inland Tasmania, and thus, the effects of the ocean should not present too serious a problem in the interpretation of field station studies. The discrepancies between model and field station results should be useful in mapping geological boundaries in the region.     

A laboratory electromagnetic model study of the Juan de Fuca Plate region

The behaviour of the magnetic field variations over the Juan de Fuca Plate region is studied using a scaled laboratory analogue model. The model includes a simulation of the complex Juan de Fuca Plate subducting the Vancouver Island region. The subducting plate is modelled with a profile of increasing inclination from east to west; horizontal offshore, dipping at 10° under Vancouver Island, and bending further under Georgia Strait to subduct the continent at 30° for the B.C. region and 45° for the Washington-Oregon region. The strike of the bending plate follows the general strike of the continental coastline with an abrupt change in direction (42°) in the Puget Sound area. The model substructure simulates a subducting plate, overplated by a sediment layer several kilometres thick, and underlain by a 30 km thick highly conducting upper asthenosphere. The model source frequencies used simulate periods 5–120 min in the geophysical scale. In-phase and quadrature H_x, H_y, and H_z magnetic field measurements for the modelled region are presented for an approximately uniform overhead horizontal source field for E- and H-polarizations (electric field of the source approximately parallel and perpendicular, respectively, to the west coast of Vancouver Island). The fields for three regions of the model; over Vancouver Island, over the Olympic Peninsula and over a linear portion of the U.S. coastline, are examined in detail. The general conclusion is that the effect of the dipping subducting plates is to significantly attenuate, at short periods, the maxima in the anomalies at the coastlines underlain by the 10° dipping plate, while leading to anomalous vertical and horizontal fields over ranges as large as 500 km inland over a wide period range. Anomalous fields are observed over the offshore and inland knee-bends of the subducting plates at all periods for both E- and H-polarizations. For locations on land, the in-phase induction arrows point seaward and perpendicular to the strikes of the dipping plates for all periods, while the quadrature arrows at short periods point landward and rotate to point seaward for periods greater than 20 min.     

A comparison of numerical,analogue model,and field-station vertical magnetic-fields for the Vancouver Island region

Vertical magnetic fields for a three-dimensional numerical model, for a laboratory-analogue model, and from field stations for the Vancouver Island region of British Columbia, Canada, are compared. The numerical results are obtained using a three-dimensional finite-difference numerical technique employing a 25 × 25 × 25 mesh of grid points for a simplified mathematical model of the Vancouver Island region. The calculations are carried out for a source frequency of 0.004 Hz. The analogue model results for four traverses over the Island model and the field station values (obtained from transfer function analysis) for ten locations are those discussed previously by Nienaber et al. (1979a, b). General agreement exists between the numerical, analogue, and field station data, and comparison of results between these methods is important in three-dimensional electromagnetic induction studies of complex geomagnetic induction problems.     

Electromagnetic induction in the British Isles region: analogue model and field station results

The results of a laboratory electromagnetic analogue model study, which employs a horizontal inducing field over a simple model of the British Isles region, delineate the location and frequency dependence of the major coast effect induction anomalies of the Scotland region. Contours of amplitudes, amplitude ratios, and in-phase and quadrature parts of the model field measurements are presented. The model vertical magnetic fields for two orthogonal source field polarizations and field station values for two hypothetical events for corresponding polarizations are compared.While major discrepancies occur between model and field H_z amplitudes, the H_z gradients across Scotland, which can be attributed to the coast-effect, are comparable in value, although sometimes reversed in sign. Superimposed on this coast-effect, the field data indicate the existence of current concentrations associated with the Great Glen and the Southern Uplands faults and possibly also of currents within the Scottish mainland near the east and west coasts.     

Modeling the Dst variation during magnetic storms

A unified method for calculating the Dst index and its components using models of the magnetospheric magnetic field is proposed. The method is consistent with the procedure for calculating Dst from the ground-based magnetometer data. When calculating Dst, the quiet-day magnetic variation is subtracted from the model variation of the magnetic field of magnetospheric sources. The effect of induced currents flowing in the surface layer of the Earth’s crust is taken into account. The dynamics of the magnetospheric current systems during a storm is studied based on an analysis of the Dst components. The magnetic field components for a “quiet” day in June 1998 are studied. The calculations of the Dst components in the parabolid and T01 models demonstrate that the maximum contributions of the ring current and magnetotail current system to the Dst variation are comparable for the magnetic storm of June 25–26, 1998.     

On the origin of El Chichón volcano and subduction of Tehuantepec Ridge: A geodynamical perspective

The origin of El Chichón volcano is poorly understood, and we attempt in this study to demonstrate that the Tehuantepec Ridge (TR), a major tectonic discontinuity on the Cocos plate, plays a key role in determining the location of the volcano by enhancing the slab dehydration budget beneath it. Using marine magnetic anomalies we show that the upper mantle beneath TR undergoes strong serpentinization, carrying significant amounts of water into subduction. Another key aspect of the magnetic anomaly over southern Mexico is a long-wavelength (∼ 150 km) high amplitude (∼ 500 nT) magnetic anomaly located between the trench and the coast. Using a 2D joint magnetic-gravity forward model, constrained by the subduction P–T structure, slab geometry and seismicity, we find a highly magnetic and low-density source located at 40–80 km depth that we interpret as a partially serpentinized mantle wedge formed by fluids expelled from the subducting Cocos plate. Using phase diagrams for sediments, basalt and peridotite, and the thermal structure of the subduction zone beneath El Chichón we find that ∼ 40% of sediments and basalt dehydrate at depths corresponding with the location of the serpentinized mantle wedge, whereas the serpentinized root beneath TR strongly dehydrates (∼90%) at depths of 180-200 km comparable with the slab depths beneath El Chichón (200-220 km). We conclude that this strong deserpentinization pulse of mantle lithosphere beneath TR at great depths is responsible for the unusual location, singularity and, probably, the geochemically distinct signature (adakitic-like) of El Chichón volcano.     

地球物理问题中电磁感应的实验室模拟模型研究

在地球物理问题中,有两种方法通常用于解释地磁和地电异常,这就是数字模型技术和实验室模拟模型法。实验室模拟模型对于分析不易求得数学解的问题非常有用,并且已经广泛用于研究复杂的地球物理问题。本文评述了国外特别是加拿大开展模拟模型研究的情况;描述了平面波、线电流、磁偶极等各种类型的场源模型;给出了该法在研究海岸效应、岛陆通道电流、海浪电磁效应和各向异性导体等方面的应用。模拟模型测量和数字计算的比较结果显示了非常好的一致性,这就进一步证实了模拟模型法对于研究复杂二维和三维感应问题的可靠性。该项研究工作对于了解天然电磁场源的性质、进行地球物理勘探以及研究地球地壳和地幔的电性结构都十分有益。     

THE INDUCTIVE RESPONSE OF A HORIZONTAL CONDUCTING CYLINDER BURIED IN A UNIFORM EARTH FOR A UNIFORM INDUCING FIELD*

The inductive response of a conducting horizontal cylinder embedded in a uniform earth is studied using numerical results obtained for an analytical solution for the problem of a conducting cylinder buried in a homogeneous earth for the case of a uniform inducing field. A check of the validity of the numerical results is made by a comparison with analogue model measurements for a number of cases. Numerical results for a range of cylinder radii (a = 1–10 km), depths of burial (d= 0–4 km), conductivity contrasts (σ₂= 10^?2-10 Sm^?1), and source frequencies (f= 10^?1-10^?4 Hz) of interest in the interpretation of magnetotelluric field measurements are presented. The results indicate that for a uniform inducing field the conductivity and depth of burial of a horizontal cylindrical inhomogeneity are best determined through a measurement of the amplitudes H_y, H_z and E_x and the phases φ_y and Ψ_x.     

Disturbance daily variation of electrojet current at Indian longitude sector

Using the hourly mean data of the horizontal (H) and vertical (Z) components of the geomagnetic field at the set of nine observatories in India, it has been found that the Disturbance Daily Variation (SD) of H shows a prominent midday depression over the magnetic equator of the H field and a midday increase of Z field at stations near the northern fringe of the equatorial electrojet belt. The magnetic disturbance introduces a westward electric field over the equatorial region, causing a band of westward ionospheric current over the magnetic equator during the day time hours. The latitudinal extent of the disturbance time counter electrojet current seems to be larger than that of quiet time normal electrojet current. This suggests a systematic westward electric field superposed on the normal Sq field at low latitude ionosphere during disturbed periods, the source of which has to be clearly defined. Further correlative data analysis is required to isolate these sources of the disturbed equatorial electric fields.     

Galactic dynamo models without sharp boundaries

Abstract

A new numerical approach is introduced which allows investigation into the conditions for dynamogeneration of axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric large-scale magnetic field modes in galaxy models which are defined by axisymmetric distributions of the α-parameter, the angular velocity and the electrical conductivity. The velocity field is assumed to be localized, however, the common assumption of a sharp boundary of the conducting region is dropped.

The possible anisotropy of the α-tensor is taken into account. The critical dynamo numbers (excitation conditions) for different modes are obtained by a direct method. The required steady states are attained by the use of an artificial non-linearity.

Initial test calculations demonstrate the efficacy of this new concept.     

Solar flare model: Comparison of the results of numerical simulations and observations

The electrodynamic flare model is based on numerical 3D simulations with the real magnetic field of an active region. An energy of ∼10³² erg necessary for a solar flare is shown to accumulate in the magnetic field of a coronal current sheet. The thermal X-ray source in the corona results from plasma heating in the current sheet upon reconnection. The hard X-ray sources are located on the solar surface at the loop foot-points. They are produced by the precipitation of electron beams accelerated in field-aligned currents. Solar cosmic rays appear upon acceleration in the electric field along a singular magnetic X-type line. The generation mechanism of the delayed cosmic-ray component is also discussed.     

THE TRANSIENT ELECTROMAGNETIC RESPONSE OF A CONDUCTING SPHERE IN AN IMPERFECTLY CONDUCTING HALF-SPACE*

The presence of a conducting environment about a spherical ore body must be considered when calculating the transient electromagnetic response of the ore body due to a step current flowing in a large circular loop at the earth's surface. Failure to do this can easily lead to errors in excess of 10% in numerical calculations. Moreover, there is only a limited time interval in which the response of the spherical conductor is easily seen. In a poorly conducting ground the resonance response of the sphere is the first to be excited. Later, however, the non-resonance or wave-type response is excited. These waves destructively interfere and finally the response of the sphere decays with time as t^?7/2. For a range of times and depths the best loop for detecting the sphere has about the same radius as the sphere.     

Thermal Generation of Alfvén Waves in Oscillatory Magnetoconvection: Diffusively Modified Modes

Thermal instabilities in the form of oscillatory magnetoconvection representing diffusively modified Alfvén waves in an electrically-conducting Bénard fluid layer of rigid walls in the presence of a vertical magnetic field are investigated. Emphasis of the article is on the transition from a nearly undamped Alfvén wave to diffusively modified Alfvén waves, and on the effect of physically realisable magnetic field boundary conditions on magnetoconvection. It is found that the extra magnetic dissipation in the magnetic Hartmann boundary layers can enhance oscillatory magnetoconvection in the form of strongly modified Alfvén waves. Oscillatory magnetoconvection produced solely by the Alfvén wave mechanism can be the most unstable mode even in the presence of a strong viscous effect. This article also represents the first study on the effect of an electrically conducting wall on magnetoconvection which is associated with a nonlinear eigenvalue problem. We find that the electrically perfectly conducting condition does not yield a good approximation for magnetoconvection with an electrically highly conducting wall. The size of oscillation frequency with an electrically highly conducting wall can be more than a factor of 2 larger than that obtained using the perfectly conducting condition.