Mapping and interpretation of satellite magnetic anomalies from POGO data over the Antarctic region

Abstract

A satellite magnetic anomaly map made using the POGO magnetic field data is compared to three maps made using Magsat data. A total of 14 anomalies with magnitudes greater than 3 nT can be identified in all four of the maps poleward of 60°S latitude. Forward models of the Antarctic continental and oceanic lithosphere are produced which use magnetic crustal thickness based on seismic and heat flow data, and which also use the distribution of the Cretaceous Quiet Zone from marine geophysics. These simple models can explain significant parts of eight of the 14 identified anomalies. The remaining anomalies may be caused by lateral variations of magnetization, inadequate models of the magnetic crustal thickness, or remanent magnetizations in directions other than the present field. In addition, contamination of the magnetic anomaly maps by fields of time-varying external origin (and their corresponding internal parts) is still a significant problem in the Antarctic region.