Geomagnetic spikes on the core-mantle boundary

TL;DR

This paper investigates the 1000 BC Levantine geomagnetic spike, proposing it originated from a localized core-mantle boundary flux patch that grew and migrated, influencing Earth's magnetic field and decay processes.

Contribution

It introduces a geometric and energetic model linking the Levantine spike to a localized CMB flux patch, providing constraints on its size and evolution.

Findings

CMB flux patch must span > 60° longitude if from core

Models suggest CMB spikes are 8-22° wide, peaking at ~100 mT

Diffusive processes likely govern the decay of geomagnetic spikes

Abstract

Extreme variations of Earth's magnetic field occurred in the Levant region around 1000 BC, when the field intensity rapidly rose and fell by a factor of 2. No coherent link currently exists between this intensity spike and the global field produced by the core geodynamo. Here we show that the Levantine spike must span > 60 degrees longitude at Earth's surface if it originates from the core-mantle boundary (CMB). Several low intensity data are incompatible with this geometric bound, though age uncertainties suggest these data could have sampled the field before the spike emerged. Models that best satisfy energetic and geometric constraints produce CMB spikes 8-22 degrees wide, peaking at O(100) mT. We suggest that the Levantine spike reflects an intense CMB flux patch that grew in place before migrating northwest, contributing to growth of the dipole field. Estimates of Ohmic heating suggest that diffusive processes likely govern the ultimate decay of geomagnetic spikes.