Collaborative Research: Global Conductivity by Spatiotemporal Analysis

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EverettEAR-0087643Lateral variations in mantle electrical conductivity provide insight into mantle convection, the fate of subducting slabs, the distribution of mantle plumes, and the nature of the transition zone from upper to lower mantle. Mantle electrical conductivity traditionally has been studied using frequency-domain response functions derived from Fourier analysis of permanent geomagnetic observatory time series. This method is limited however by the sparse and geographically irregular observatory distribution. Magnetic satellites, which record continuous spatiotemporal magnetic fluctuations, offer an opportunity to overcome this limitation since they sample the globe completely. The investigators have proposed to develop a time-domain 3D spherical Earth induction code and use data from the MAGSAT and Oersted satellites to investigate 3D variations in upper mantle electrical conductivity.