A statistical analysis of polarity reversals of the geomagnetic field

Abstract:

We investigate the temporal distribution of polarity reversals of the geomagnetic field. In spite of the common assumption that the reversal sequence can be modeled as a realization of a renewal Poisson process with a variable rate, we show that the polarity reversals strongly depart from a local Poisson statistics. The origin of this failure can be attributed to temporal clustering, thus suggesting the presence of long-range correlations in the underlying dynamo process. In this framework we compare our results with the behaviour of different models that describe the time evolution of the reversals. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Año de publicación:

2007

Keywords:

• Geomagnetism
• Paleomagnetic measurements
• Dynamo effect

Fuente:

scopus