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Magnetic Field

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Remote Sensing

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

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Definition

Core field. The main part of the geomagnetic field, caused by dynamo action in the Earth’s fluid outer core.

Crustal field. The magnetic field contribution caused by (permanent or remnant) magnetized material in the Earth’s crust.

Internal sources. Magnetic field contributions caused by electrical currents or magnetized material in the Earth’s interior.

External sources. Magnetic field contributions produced by electric currents in the ionosphere or magnetosphere.

Introduction

The Earth has a large and complicated magnetic field, the major part of which is produced by a self-sustaining dynamo operating in the fluid outer core. Magnetic field observations provide one of the few tools for remote sensing the Earth’s deep interior, especially regarding the dynamics of the fluid flow at the top of the core. However, what is measured at or near the surface of the Earth is the superposition of the core field and fields caused by magnetized rocks in the Earth’s crust, by electric...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DTU Space, Technical University of Denmark, Elektrovej, bygn. 327, Lyngby, Denmark

    Nils Olsen

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  1. Nils Olsen
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Correspondence to Nils Olsen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA

    Eni G. Njoku

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Olsen, N. (2014). Magnetic Field. In: Njoku, E.G. (eds) Encyclopedia of Remote Sensing. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-36699-9_89

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