Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Secular variation of the geomagnetic virtual dipole field during the last 2000 years as inferred from the spherical harmonic analysis of the available archeomagnetic data

  • Published:
pure and applied geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Recently excellent archeomagnetic data sequences have been bublished from several parts of the world. Using these sequences, an attempt is made to trace the secular variation of the virtual geomagnetic dipole field characterized by the three first order spherical harmonic coefficients\(\bar g_1^0 ,\bar g_1^1 and\mathop h\limits^-- _1^1 \). The archeomagnetic data (declination, inclination and total intensity) are transformed into the first order coefficients mentioned by a simple mathematical method. The secular variations of these coefficients, however, contain both dipole and non-dipole components. The separation of these is also attempted.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

General References

  1. E. C. Bullard, C. Freedman, H. Gellman andI. Nixon:The westward drift of the earth's magnetic field, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London [A]243 (1950), 67–92.

    Google Scholar 

  2. A. Cox:Analysis of present geomagnetic field for comparison with paleomagnetic results, J. Geomagn. Geoelectr.13 (1962), 101.

    Google Scholar 

  3. N. Kawai, K. Hirooka, andS. Sasajima:Counter-clockwise rotation of the geomagnetic dipole axis revealed in the world-wide archeo-secular variations, Proc. Japan Acad.41 (1965), 398.

    Google Scholar 

  4. N. Kawai andK. Hirooka:Wobbling motion of the geomagnetic dipole field in historic time during these 2000 years, J. Geomagn. Geoelectr.,19, No. 3, (1967), 217–227.

    Google Scholar 

  5. T. Nagata:Main characteristics of recent geomagnetic secular variation, J. Geomagn. Geoelectr.17, No. 3-4 (1965), 263–276.

    Google Scholar 

  6. P. J. Smith:The intensity of the ancient geomagnetic field: A review and analysis, Geophys. J. Roy. Astron. Soc.12 (1967), 321–362.

    Google Scholar 

  7. E. H. Vestine, L. Laporte, C. Cooper, I. Lange andW. C. Hendrix:Description of the earth's main magnetic field and its secular change, 1905–1945, Publ., Carneg. Inst., No. 580 (1947).

References with Archeomagnetic Data

  1. M. J. Aitken andG. H. Weaver:Recent archeomagnetic results in England, J. Geomagn. Geoelectr.17, No. 3-4 (1965), 391–394.

    Google Scholar 

  2. R. N. Athavale:Intensity of the geomagnetic field in India over the past 4,000 years, Nature No. 5043 (1966), 1310–1312.

    Google Scholar 

  3. J. C. Belshé:Archeomagnetism. An indirect study of geomagnetic secular variation, inVistas in astronomy 4 (Pergamon Press, Oxford a. o. 1961).

    Google Scholar 

  4. S. P. Burlatskaya:Archeomagnetism (in Russian) (Izdatyelstvo ‘Nauka’, Moscow 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  5. S. P. Burlatskaya, T. B. Nechayeva andG. N. Petrova: Akad. Nauk SSSR, Physics of the Solid Earth No. 6 (1965), 380.

    Google Scholar 

  6. M. Kovacheva-Nozharova:Ancient magnetic field in Bulgaria, Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. (Bulgaria)21, No. 8 (1968), 761–763.

    Google Scholar 

  7. T. Nagata, Y. Arai andK. Momose:Secular variation of the geomagnetic total force during the last 5000 years, Journ. Geophys. Res.,68 (1963), 5277–5281.

    Google Scholar 

  8. T. Nagata, K. Kobayashi andE. J. Schwarz:Archeomagnetic intensity studies of South and Central America, J. Geomagn. Geoelectr.17, No. 3-4 (1965), 399–405.

    Google Scholar 

  9. M. Puskás:Archeomagnetism (in Hungarian), Manuscript (1968).

  10. S. Sasajima:Geomagnetic secular variation revealed in the baked earth's in west Japan (part 2),Change of the field intensity, J. Geomagn. Geoelectr.17, No. 3-4 (1965), 413–416.

    Google Scholar 

  11. J. Sipos:Archeomagnetism (in Hungarian), Manuscript (1967).

  12. P. J. Smith:Ancient geomagnetic field intensities I–II, Geophys. J. Roy. Astron. Soc.13 (1967), 417–419 and 483–486.

    Google Scholar 

  13. E. H. Tarchov:A study of secular variation of geomagnetic field by archeomagnetic method (in Russian).

  14. E. Thellier andO. Thellier:Sur l'intensité du champ magnétique terrestre dans le passé historique et geologique, Annales de Géophysique15, fasc. 3 (1959), 285–376.

    Google Scholar 

  15. N. Watanabe:Secular variation in the direction of geomagnetism as the standard scale for geomagnetochronology in Japan, Nature No. 4632 (1958), 383–384.

    Google Scholar 

  16. N. Watanabe andR. L. DuBois:Some results of an archeomagnetic study on the secular variation in the southwest of North America, J. Geomagn. Geoelectr.17, No. 3-4 (1965), 395–397.

    Google Scholar 

  17. B. M. Yanofsky:Geomagnetism (in Russian) (Izdatyelstvo Len. Univ. 1964).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geophysical Institute of L. Eötvös University, Kun Béla tér 2, Budapest VIII, (Hungary)

    P. Márton

Authors
  1. P. Márton
    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

Márton, P. Secular variation of the geomagnetic virtual dipole field during the last 2000 years as inferred from the spherical harmonic analysis of the available archeomagnetic data. PAGEOPH 81, 163–176 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00875023

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00875023

Keywords