National Academies Press: OpenBook

The National Geomagnetic Initiative (1993)

Chapter: Front Matter

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page i

THE NATIONAL GEOMAGNETIC INITIATIVE

U.S. Geodynamics Committee

Board on Earth Sciences and Resources

Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources

National Research Council



    NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
    Washington, D.C.
1993
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page ii

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.

Support for this study was provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Geological Survey.

Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 93-85739

International Standard Book Number 0-309-04977-6

Copies of this report are available from:


    National Academy Press
    2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20418

800-624-6242 202-334-3313 (in the Washington Metropolitan Area)

B-201

Cover art by Shelley Myers, Project Assistant for the U.S. Geodynamics Committee, Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, National Research Council. Myers' work is exhibited widely in the Washington, D.C. area and has won several area awards. The cover depicts the magnetic field of the Earth and is based on an original painting by a U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey artist.

Copyright 1993 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page iii

U.S. GEODYNAMICS COMMITTEE

ROBIN BRETT, U.S. Geological Survey, Chairman

DON ANDERSON, California Institute of Technology

WILLIAM DICKINSON, University of Arizona

RICHARD S. FISKE, Smithsonian Institution

RAYMOND JEANLOZ, University of California, Berkeley

KENNETH LARNER, Colorado School of Mines

ELIZABETH MILLER, Stanford University

ROBERT S. YEATS, Oregon State University

Former Members Whose Terms Expired During the Reporting Period

FRANK M. RICHTER, University of Chicago, Chairman

DONALD J. DEPAOLO, University of California, Berkeley

T. MARK HARRISON, University of California, Los Angeles

BRADFORD H. HAGER, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

WILLIAM J. HINZE, Purdue University

JOHN C. MUTTER, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

ROBERT A. PHINNEY, Princeton University

SIGMUND SNELSON, Shell Oil Co.

E-AN ZEN, University of Maryland

National Research Council Staff

KEVIN D. CROWLEY, Program Officer

PEMBROKE J. HART, Senior Program Officer (retired)

CHARLENE E. ANDERSON, Administrative Assistant

SHELLEY A. MYERS, Project Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page iv

BOARD ON EARTH SCIENCES AND RESOURCES

WILLIAM L. FISHER, University of Texas at Austin, Chairman

SAMUEL S. ADAMS, Minerals Consultant, Lincoln, NH

GAIL M. ASHLEY, Rutgers University

MARK P. CLOOS, University of Texas at Austin

NEVILLE G.W. COOK, University of California, Berkeley

JOEL DARMSTADTER, Resources for the Future

DONALD J. DEPAOLO, University of California, Berkeley

GORDON P. EATON, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

W. GARY ERNST, Stanford University

NORMAN H. FOSTER, Independent Petroleum Geologist, Denver

FREEMAN GILBERT, University of California, San Diego

DONALD C. HANEY, University of Kentucky

THOMAS H. JORDAN, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

ANDREW H. KNOLL, Harvard University

PHILIP E. LAMOREAUX, P.E. LaMoreaux and Associates, Inc.

SUSAN LANDON, Thomasson Partner Associates, Denver

J. BERNARD MINSTER, University of California, San Diego

CAREL OTTE, JR., Unocal Corporation (retired)

JILL D. PASTERIS, Washington University

EDWARD C. ROY, JR., Trinity University

National Research Council Staff

JONATHAN G. PRICE, Staff Director

THOMAS M. USSELMAN, Associate Staff Director

WILLIAM E. BENSON, Senior Staff Officer

KEVIN D. CROWLEY, Program Officer

BRUCE B. HANSHAW, Program Officer

ANNE M. LINN, Program Officer

LALLY A. ANDERSON, Staff Assistant

CHARLENE E. ANDERSON, Administrative Assistant

JUDITH L. ESTEP, Administrative Assistant

SHELLEY A. MYERS, Project Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page v

COMMISSION ON GEOSCIENCES, ENVIRONMENT, AND RESOURCES

M. GORDON WOLMAN, The Johns Hopkins University, Chairman

PATRICK R. ATKINS, Aluminum Company of America

PETER S. EAGLESON, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

EDWARD A. FRIEMAN, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

W. BARCLAY KAMB, California Institute of Technology

JACK E. OLIVER, Cornell University

FRANK L. PARKER, Vanderbilt University

RAYMOND A. PRICE, Queen's University at Kingston

LARRY L. SMARR, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

STEVEN M. STANLEY, The Johns Hopkins University

WARREN WASHINGTON, National Center for Atmospheric Research

EDITH BROWN WEISS, Georgetown University Law Center

National Research Council Staff

STEPHEN RATTIEN, Executive Director

STEPHEN D. PARKER, Associate Executive Director

MORGAN GOPNIK, Assistant Executive Director (as of 10/93)

LORRAINE W. WOLF, Assistant Executive Director (until 9/93)

JEANETTE A. SPOON, Administrative Officer

SANDI FITZPATRICK, Administrative Associate

ROBIN ALLEN, Senior Project Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page vi

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Robert M. White is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and of advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce Alberts and Dr. Robert M. White are chairman and vice- chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page vii

PREFACE

The U.S. Geodynamics Committee (USGC) began considering challenges and opportunities in geomagnetic research in 1988, thanks in large part to the efforts of John Hermance. A USGC-appointed task group, chaired by Rob Van der Voo, recommended that the USGC convene a workshop to:

  • address challenges and future directions in geomagnetic research and applications;

  • consider the need for an ongoing mechanism for future discussion, interaction, and coordination; and

  • develop a plan of action.

The USGC accepted this recommendation and, in July 1990, convened a planning group to design a workshop for the above-stated purposes, emphasizing those aspects of research and applications related to temporal and spatial variations of the geomagnetic field in the solid Earth and geospace (atmosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere) environment. From these discussions, the concept of a national geomagnetic initiative emerged.

The National Geomagnetic Initiative Workshop was held in Washington, D.C., on March 16-20, 1992. The workshop addressed scientific challenges in four principal areas:

1. main field and core processes;

2. electromagnetic induction in the solid Earth and oceans;

3. lithospheric magnetic anomalies; and

4. magnetospheric and ionospheric processes.

Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page viii

The workshop also addressed issues common to these areas related to instrumentation, analytical techniques, computational facilities, and data access and management.

As recommended by the task group, the topics of paleomagnetism and archaeomagnetism were not addressed at the workshop. These topics were addressed in an earlier report, Problems and Current Trends in Rock Magnetism and Paleomagnetism (Subir K. Banerjee, Robert F. Butler, and Victor A. Schmidt, editors; Washington, D.C.: American Geophysical Union, 1986). The committee has included in the present report some amplifications based on a document, GP Initiative on the Earth's Magnetic Field (Kenneth L. Verosub [chairman], George E. Backus, Edward R. Benton, Robert S. Coe, Dennis V. Kent, and Ronald F. Merrill), which was presented to the Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Section of the American Geophysical Union in October 1988.

Participation in the workshop (there were about 90 attendees) was sufficiently broad to be representative of the major scientific topics and operational issues addressed at the workshop and the relevant current and planned national and international programs. Several constituencies were represented at the workshop: groups from the National Research Council—in particular, the Space Studies Board, the Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Research, and the Board on Earth Sciences and Resources; national scientific societies through their memberships, especially the American Geophysical Union, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, and the Geological Society of America; government agencies; and industry. Although several foreign scientists participated in the workshop, the study was undertaken mainly to guide the U.S. scientific community. However, the USGC recognizes that implementation of some of the report recommendations will require the participation of foreign scientists and governments.

This report is based on the findings and recommendations of the workshop as set forth in a draft of the workshop proceedings submitted to the USGC. It is intended as a comprehensive overview of geomagnetism that describes the scope of the science and its interdisciplinary importance.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page ix

By describing the totality of geomagnetic activities in research and applications sponsored by a wide range of federal, state, and other organizations, the document identifies a broad spectrum of fundamental scientific and societal concerns and thus constitutes a truly national enterprise.

The report contains three unrefereed appendixes. The first two of these contain draft statements prepared by the working groups of the workshop. The third contains details of the workshop organization.

The statements prepared by the working groups were intended to represent a balanced view of the major scientific problems, challenges, and concomitant needs for various aspects of geomagnetism. The working group reports were prepared under the guidance of working group chairs, who endeavored to take account of suggestions made during the meetings and to reflect a consensus of the discussions. Constraints of time did not permit review of each working group report by all group participants; thus, individual participants may not agree with all statements in the reports, and these group reports do not necessarily reflect the views of the USGC. However, they contain a wealth of information regarding the challenges and opportunities in geomagnetism and provide a basis for further discussion of these issues.

The appendixes in this document are included solely for the interest of the reader. The reports in Appendix A and Appendix B have not been subjected to review by the National Research Council. Any conclusions or recommendations that are given or implied in them are the opinions of the individual authors or working groups. Responsibility for the main text of the report rests with the USGC.

The USGC expresses thanks to all who contributed to the success of the workshop, especially the members of the Executive Committee of the workshop, John Hermance (chair), William Hinze, Robert Langel, and Christopher Russell, and to the chairs of the working groups and subgroups. The USGC is pleased to acknowledge the U.S. Department of Energy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Headquarters and National

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page x

Geophysical Data Center), National Science Foundation, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Geological Survey, whose support made this report possible.

The USGC notes with sad regret the untimely death of Edward Benton, who served on the Executive Committee of the workshop and contributed so much of his personal energy toward assuring the success of this enterprise.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page xi

CONTENTS


Please refer to the page image for an unflawed representation of this content.

1   2   3   Issue 1:   Issue 2:   Issue 3:   Issue 4:   4  

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1

Introduction

1

Scientific and Societal Issues

2

Overview of Recommendations

8

SCIENTIFIC FRAMEWORK

11

The Global Perspective

11

The Dynamics of the Global Geomagnetic Environment

14

Recommendations

17

SCIENTIFIC ISSUES AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

18

Dynamics of the Earth's Core and Fluctuations in the Main Field

18

Lithospheric Magnetic Anomalies

24

Magnetospheric and Ionospheric Processes—Coordinated Satellite and Ground-Based Studies

33

Electromagnetic Induction in the Solid Earth and Oceans

42

OBSERVATIONAL NEEDS AND FACILITIES

51

Land and Ocean Floor Measurements

52

Marine and Aircraft Measurements

55

Satellite Measurements

56

Prehistorical Reconstructions, Historical Data, and Laboratory Measurements

57

Recommendations

59

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page xii

5  

DATA MANAGEMENT

61

Data, Metadata, Data Quality, and Formats

61

Data Centers

62

Data Availability

64

Derived Products

64

Recommendations

65

6  

COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION

68

International Scientific Unions and Programs

68

National and International Activities

70

Recommendations

72

APPENDIX A:  

TOPICAL WORKING GROUP REPORTS

74

A1.  

THE MAGNETOSPHERE, IONOSPHERE, AND ATMOSPHERE

75

A2.  

UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE AND EVOLUTION OF THE LITHOSPHERE FROM MAGNETIC ANOMALIES

100

A3.  

ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION STUDIES IN THE EARTH AND OCEANS

119

A4.  

MAIN FIELD AND CORE PROCESSES

134

APPENDIX B:  

OPERATIONAL WORKING GROUP REPORTS

155

B1.  

OPERATIONAL PLATFORMS

155

B2.  

DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

190

Page xiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page xiii

B3.  

INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION

208

APPENDIX C:  

WORKSHOP ORGANIZATION

219

APPENDIX D:  

ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND SPECIAL NAMES

241

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page xiv

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page xv

THE NATIONAL GEOMAGNETIC INITIATIVE

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×

Page xvi

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R1
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R2
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R3
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R4
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R5
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R6
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R7
Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R8
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R9
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R10
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R11
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R12
Page xiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R13
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R14
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R15
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1993. The National Geomagnetic Initiative. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/2238.
×
Page R16
Next: Executive Summary »
The National Geomagnetic Initiative Get This Book
×
Buy Paperback | $50.00
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

This book provides a comprehensive review of geomagnetism and describes the scope of the science and its interdisciplinary importance. It explores a wide range of synergistic linkages in geophysical research and associated applications related to the geomagnetic field, as well as corresponding challenges and opportunities.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!