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

地球的磁场是一个保护地球免受危险的磁暴和宇宙辐射的屏障，这些磁暴和宇宙辐射有可能破坏技术基础设施，剥离地球的大气层，并最终伤害生命。由于其对可居住性和现代技术基础设施的重要性，了解地球磁场在地球过去的变化以及未来可能如何变化至关重要。要做到这一点，有必要使用古地磁学来表征磁场的时空变化，其中磁场的古代记录是从岩石中测量的。由于古地磁数据的稀缺和古地磁教育和培训的空白，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的地磁场行为记录器，填补当前古地磁记录中的重要数据空白，改善地磁场行为的表征，该记录器记录了美国Powder River Basin煤层火烘烤和燃烧的熟料或岩石。这一目标将进一步加强通过一个新的古地磁通识教育课程的发展和经验学习研究经验的熟料作为佛罗里达大学（UF）的任务计划的一部分，并为高中年龄的古地磁重点研讨会的发展4-H俱乐部成员作为用友推广服务'计划的一部分，4-H大学。这些项目将在古地磁学和地球科学领域教育广泛而多样化的观众，同时吸引新的学生攻读地球科学学位，古地磁研究，并最终成为STEM劳动力。尽管地球磁场是我们星球的基本特征，但我们对地球磁场的理解是不完整的。目前，在知识状态方面存在许多空白，包括：1）是什么驱动磁场？2)是什么导致了磁场逆转磁场在空间上是如何变化的？教育差距进一步加剧了这些知识差距。古地磁学可以提供对多个地球科学学科的深入了解，但作为一个主题，它通常在地球科学培训中很少受到关注。这影响了地球科学界理解古地磁研究的能力，以及填补理解磁场的关键空白的能力。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的地磁场行为记录器（熟料）来改善最近（0- 500万年）地磁场行为的表征，以满足这些需求。熟料，被煤层火烘烤和燃烧的岩石，是获得高质量全矢量磁记录的一个令人兴奋的新候选者，因为它们遍布世界各地，位于缺乏磁性数据的地区，可以可靠地定年，是可靠的全矢量磁记录器。在这个项目中，国家的最先进的古地磁和地质年代学技术将被利用，产生一个半连续的，高分辨率的，全矢量记录的磁场变化的第四纪上新世（0- 500万年）年龄熟料矿床从粉河盆地（PRB），美国。这项研究是建立一个可靠的方法来扩大在PRB以外的熟料矿床的工作的第一步。该项目的教育和外联部分将培训下一代古地磁学家，扩大地球科学和普通民众对古地磁研究的理解，并加强该领域代表性不足的群体的参与。该项目是一系列研究和教育的早期步骤，将导致改善磁场的全球特征。更一般地说，这个项目解决了科学优先问题之一，“地球的内部场是如何产生的？”，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识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.