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Fluid flow near the surface of earth's outer coreThis review examines the recent attempts at extracting information on the pattern of fluid flow near the surface of the outer core from the geomagnetic secular variation. Maps of the fluid flow at the core surface are important as they may provide some insight into the process of the geodynamo and may place useful constraints on geodynamo models. In contrast to the case of mantle convection, only very small lateral variations in core density are necessary to drive the flow; these density variations are, by several orders of magnitude, too small to be imaged seismically; therefore, the geomagnetic secular variation is utilized to infer the flow. As substantial differences exist between maps developed by different researchers, the possible underlying reasons for these differences are examined with particular attention given to the inherent problems of nonuniqueness.
Document ID
19910041889
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Bloxham, Jeremy
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Jackson, Andrew
(Harvard University Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Reviews of Geophysics
Volume: 29
ISSN: 8755-1209
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
91A26512
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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