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Core‐Mantle Boundary Topography, Implications For Dynamics

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Encyclopedia of Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism
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Ever since it was suggested (Hide and Malin, 1970) that the observed correlation between the variable parts of the Earth's surface gravitational and geomagnetic fields may be explained by the influence of topography (or surface bumps) on the core‐mantle interface, there has been considerable interest in the resulting electromagnetic induction and core magnetohydrodynamics (see Core motions ; Core‐mantle coupling, topographic). Though the size of the bumps is uncertain, seismic data suggests that the biggest bumps, on the longest length scales, have heights up to the order 10 km (see Core‐mantle boundary, seismology ) Though this is small compared to the core radius, they may have a considerable influence on core motion provided that the horizontal scale is large because of the large Coriolis force and the resulting influences of the Proudman‐Taylor theorem (q.v.). Other Core‐mantle couplings, including electromagnetic and thermal, have also been investigated.

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© 2007 Springer-Verlag

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Soward, A. (2007). Core‐Mantle Boundary Topography, Implications For Dynamics. In: Gubbins, D., Herrero-Bervera, E. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4423-6_49

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