A Spherical Harmonic Model of Earth's Lithospheric Magnetic Field up to Degree 1050

Detailed mapping of the Earth's magnetic field brings key constraints on the composition, dynamics, and history of the crust. Satellite and near-surface measurements detect different length scales and are complementary. Here, we build a model, selecting and processing magnetic field measurements from the German CHAMP and ESA Swarm satellites, which we merge with near-surface scalar anomaly data. We follow a regional approach for modeling the magnetic field measurements and next transform the series of regional models into a unique set of spherical harmonic (SH) Gauss coefficients. This produces the first global model to SH degree 1050 derived by inversion of all available measurements. The new model agrees with previous satellite-based models at large wavelengths and fits the CHAMP and Swarm satellite data down to expected noise levels. Further assessment in the geographical and spectral domains shows the model to be stable when downward continued to the Earth's surface.

Automated summary

The detailed mapping of Earth's magnetic field, using satellite and near-surface measurements, has produced a global model with SH degree 1050 that is in agreement with previous satellite-based models at large wavelengths. The model is stable when downward continued to the Earth's surface and fits the CHAMP and Swarm satellite data down to expected noise levels.