Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | Wave motion and double diffusion in dynamo models: A journey through planetary magnetic fields |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Principal Investigator : | Prof. Binod Sreenivasan, Indian Institute Of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka |
Timeline Start Year : | 2022 |
Timeline End Year : | 2025 |
Contact info : | bsreeni@iisc.ac.in |
Equipments : | Mobile workstation
Precision workstation |
Details
Executive Summary : | The Earth's magnetic field, dominated by the axial dipole, is crucial for marine navigation and protecting our atmosphere and life from high-energy particles from outer space. Its historical evolution is essential for understanding the interaction of the solar wind with the planet's atmosphere. Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn have dipole-dominated magnetic fields, while Venus has no internally generated magnetic field. Planetary magnetic fields are produced by self-excited dynamos operating in their electrically conducting fluid cores. Current core dynamo models solve magnetohydrodynamic equations, providing insights into planetary magnetic field features such as dipole-dominated structure, secular variation, mantle-induced flux concentrations, and polarity reversals. The historical evolution of planetary magnetic fields depends on factors such as buoyancy profile, density variations, and the interaction of a terrestrial planetary core with its overlying mantle. This project aims to explain variations in magnetic fields in space and time by analyzing magnetic waves in linear and nonlinear MHD models of planetary cores. The dynamics of these waves are related to the formation of the axial dipole and magnetic polarity reversals. The models will help interpret magnetic flux anomalies in the Earth's Southern Hemisphere and help understand magnetic field generation in outer planets, particularly Jupiter and Saturn. The project also studies the effect of double-diffusive convection on core-mantle coupling and terrestrial planetary magnetic fields. |
Total Budget (INR): | 44,87,360 |
Organizations involved