The projects aims at a description of the solar-cycle related variations of the large-scale magnetospheric contributions to the geomagnetic field, which can be used to eliminate this signal from decadal geomagnetic observatory or repeat station time-series for studies of internal core field secular variation. (Project within SPP1788 - Dynamic Earth)
The aim of this study is to identify the role of atmospheric tides in the short-term variability of the global solar-quiet (Sq) current system. Atmospheric tides are global-scale waves generated mainly in the troposphere (<10 km) and stratosphere (<50 km). Tidal waves can propagate vertically into the ionosphere (>90 km), where the Sq currents flow. Understanding the tidal effect on the Sq current system is important for a better description of the Earth's magnetic field.
The GFZ, which looks back on many years of experience in analysis of satellite-based gravity field measurements, participates in the evaluation of GOCE data as a co-operating partner within the framework of the so called GOCE High Level Processing Facility (GOCE HPF) under the Project Management of the Technical University Munich and together with scientific institutions from Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
In this project the acceleration mechanisms of the up-welling ions at source regions altitude will be investigated based on data obtained from the CHAMP (400km), GRACE (500km), and DMSP (830km) satellites. For the first time the role of the neutral particles in the thermosphere will be included in the considerations.
The Earth's magnetic field has undergone temporal and spatial
variations including polarity reversals. Global models of the Earth's magnetic field derived from geomagnetic satellite and observatory data, but also from historical and archeomagnetic data provide unique insights to the dynamical processes. Consolidated knowledge of these processes by a joint analysis of geomagnetic field observations and numerical simulation of the geodynamo can facilitate schemes to forecast Earth's magnetic field changes.
Cooperation of SANSA Space Science (South Africa) and GFZ, within the Inkaba yeAfrica project. This involved the establishment of a new geomagnetic observatory in 2006 which is operated jointly now in Keetmanshoop (Namibia) and cooperative repeat station surveys on 40 locations in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, which will continue over several years.