CAREER: Full-vector Characterization of the recent (0-5 Myr) Geomagnetic field using novel magnetic field recorder

地球的磁场起到了屏蔽的作用，保护地球免受危险的磁暴和宇宙辐射的影响，这些危险的磁暴和宇宙辐射可能会破坏技术基础设施，剥离地球的大气，并最终损害生命。由于它对宜居性和现代技术基础设施的重要性，了解地球磁场在过去是如何变化的，以及未来可能会如何变化是至关重要的。要做到这一点，有必要利用古地磁来表征磁场的时空变化，古地磁是从岩石测量古代磁场记录的。由于古地磁数据稀少，以及在古地磁教育和培训方面的差距，我们理解过去行为和预测未来行为的能力受到阻碍。该项目旨在通过使用一种新型的地磁场行为记录器来填补当前古地磁记录中的重要数据空白，从而改进对地磁场行为的表征，该记录器包括来自美国粉底河盆地的由煤层火灾焙烧的熟料或岩石。这一目标将通过作为佛罗里达大学(UF)Quest计划的一部分开发新的古地磁学普通教育课程和熟料体验式学习研究经验，以及作为UF扩展服务项目4-H大学的一部分，为高中年龄的4-H俱乐部成员开发以古地磁为重点的研讨会来进一步加强。这些计划将在古地磁学和地球科学领域培养广泛和多样化的受众，同时吸引新的学生进入地球科学学位、古地磁研究，并最终进入STEM工作。尽管是我们星球的一个基本特征，但我们对地球磁场的理解是不完整的。目前，人们对磁场的认识还存在许多空白，包括：1)是什么驱动了磁场？2)是什么导致了磁反转？3)磁场在空间上是如何变化的？这些知识差距因教育差距而进一步加剧。古地磁学可以提供对多个地学学科的洞察，但作为一个主题，它在地学培训中通常很少受到关注。这不仅影响了地球科学界了解古地磁研究的能力，还影响了填补了解磁场方面的重大空白的能力。填补这些关键空白所需要的是更高质量的全矢量(方向和强度)古地磁数据，以及一支训练有素的劳动力来收集和分析这些数据。该项目的目的是通过使用一种新型的地磁场行为记录器--熟料来改善对最近(0-5Myr)地磁场行为的表征，以满足这些需求。熟料是由煤层火灾烘烤和燃烧的岩石，是获得高质量全向量磁记录的令人兴奋的新候选对象，因为它们在世界各地出现，位于缺乏磁数据的地区，可以可靠地确定年代，是可靠的全向量磁记录器。在这个项目中，将利用最先进的古地磁和地质年代学技术，生成美国粉底河盆地(PRB)第四纪至上新世(0-5Myr)时代熟料矿床的半连续、高分辨率、全矢量磁场变化记录。这项研究是建立一种可靠的方法以扩大PRB以外的熟料矿床工作的第一步。该项目的教育和宣传部分将培训下一代古地磁学家，扩大地球科学界和普通民众对古地磁研究的了解，并加强该领域代表性不足群体的参与。这一项目是研究和教育连续体的第一步，将导致改善磁场的全球特征。更广泛地说，这个项目解决了NSF-EAR的国家科学院十年报告中发布的科学优先问题第一个问题：地球内部场是如何产生的。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的学术价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Earth’s magnetic field acts as a shield that protects Earth from dangerous magnetic storms and cosmic radiation which have the potential to damage technical infrastructure, strip away Earth’s atmosphere, and ultimately harm life. Due to its importance to habitability and modern technical infrastructure, it is critical to understand how Earth’s magnetic field has varied through Earth’s past, in addition to how it might change in the future. To do this, it is necessary to characterize the spatial and temporal variations of the magnetic field using paleomagnetism, in which ancient records of the field are measured from rocks. Due to a sparsity of paleomagnetic data and gaps in paleomagnetic education and training, our ability to understand past behavior and predict future behavior is hampered. This project aims to improve the characterization of geomagnetic field behavior by filling in important data gaps in the current paleomagnetic record using a novel recorder of geomagnetic field behavior, clinkers, or rocks baked and burned by coal seam fires from the Powder River Basin, USA. This aim will be further enhanced through the development of a new paleomagnetism general education course and experiential learning research experience on clinkers as part of the University of Florida’s (UF) Quest program, and the development of a paleomagnetism-focused workshop for high-school age 4-H club members as a part of UF Extension Services’ program, 4-H University. These programs will educate a broad and diverse audience in the fields of paleomagnetism and Earth Science, while simultaneously attracting new students to Earth Science degrees, paleomagnetic research, and ultimately the STEM workforce.Despite being a fundamental feature of our planet, our understanding of Earth’s magnetic field is incomplete. Currently, there are many gaps in the state of knowledge including: 1) what drives the magnetic field? 2) what causes magnetic reversals? and 3) how does the magnetic field vary spatially? These gaps in knowledge are further exacerbated by an education gap. Paleomagnetism can provide insight into multiple geoscience disciplines, yet as a topic it typically receives little attention in geoscience training. This impacts the ability of the geoscience community to understand paleomagnetic research in addition to the ability to fill in critical gaps in understanding of the magnetic field. What is needed to fill in these critical gaps is both more high-quality full-vector (direction and intensity) paleomagnetic data in addition to a trained workforce to collect and analyze these data. The aim of this project is to fill these needs by improving the characterization of recent (0–5 Myr) geomagnetic field behavior using a novel recorder of geomagnetic field behavior, clinkers. Clinkers, rocks baked and burned by coal seam fires, are an exciting new candidate for obtaining high-quality full-vector magnetic records as they occur throughout the world, are located in regions lacking magnetic data, can be reliably dated, and are reliable full-vector magnetic recorders. In this project, state-of-the-art paleomagnetic and geochronologic techniques will be utilized, generating a semi-continuous, high-resolution, full-vector record of magnetic field variations for Quaternary to Pliocene (0–5 Myr) age clinker deposits from the Powder River Basin (PRB), USA. This research is the first step in building a reliable methodology to expand work on clinker deposits outside of the PRB. The education and outreach components of this project will train the next generation of paleomagnetists, broaden the understanding of paleomagnetic research within the geosciences and the general population, and enhance the participation of underrepresented groups in the field. This project is an early step in a continuum of research and education that will lead to an improved global characterization of the magnetic field. More generally, this project addresses science priority question one, “How is Earth’s internal field generated?”, released in the National Academies decadal report for NSF-EAR.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.