The influence of tectonic boundaries on geomagnetic variations in the Scotia Sea

• Main Authors: Beamish, D., Hamilton, R.A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: British Antarctic Survey 1983
• Subjects: Earth Sciences; Scotia Sea; British Antarctic Survey Bulletin; Ocean Island
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513323/; https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513323/1/NORA_1983_BAS_bulletin59_02.pdf; https://www.bas.ac.uk/data/our-data/our-publications/bas-bulletins-1963-1988/

Geomagnetic variation fields recorded at a particular location can be analysed to provide information on the distribution of induced currents within the Earth. An analysis of the variation fields on South Georgia, in the Scotia Sea, has revealed some unusual features in the geomagnetic response characterizing the distribution of internal currents. Both vertical and horizontal components of the variation fields appear anomalous with respect to the behaviour expected for a deep ocean island such as South Georgia. It is suggested that the anomalous variations can be accounted for by lithospheric conductivity contrasts between the older South American and much younger Scotia plates.