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Can We Probe the Conductivity of the Lithosphere and Upper Mantle Using Satellite Tidal Magnetic Signals?A few studies convincingly demonstrated that the magnetic fields induced by the lunar semidiurnal (M2) ocean flow can be identified in satellite observations. This result encourages using M2 satellite magnetic data to constrain subsurface electrical conductivity in oceanic regions. Traditional satellite-based induction studies using signals of magnetospheric origin are mostly sensitive to conducting structures because of the inductive coupling between primary and induced sources. In contrast, galvanic coupling from the oceanic tidal signal allows for studying less conductive, shallower structures. We perform global 3-D electromagnetic numerical simulations to investigate the sensitivity of M2 signals to conductivity distributions at different depths. The results of our sensitivity analysis suggest it will be promising to use M2 oceanic signals detected at satellite altitude for probing lithospheric and upper mantle conductivity. Our simulations also suggest that M2 seafloor electric and magnetic field data may provide complementary details to better constrain lithospheric conductivity.
Document ID
20170002503
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Schnepf, N. R.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Kuvshinov, A.
(Eidgenoessische Technische Hochschule Zurich, Switzerland)
Sabaka, T.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
March 23, 2017
Publication Date
May 7, 2015
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher: AGU publications
Volume: 42
Issue: 9
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN40435
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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