Earth's Magnetic Field Research Articles

Structural Rearrangements of Pigeon Cryptochrome 4 Undergoing a Complete Redox Cycle.

Cryptochrome is currently the major contender of a protein to underpin magnetoreception, the ability to sense the Earth's magnetic field. Among various types of cryptochromes, cryptochrome 4 has been identified as the likely magnetoreceptor in migratory birds. All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) studies have offered first insights into the structural dynamics of cryptochrome but are limited to a short time scale due to large computational demands. Here, we employ coarse-grained MD simulations to investigate the emergence of long-lived states and conformational changes in pigeon cryptochrome 4. Our coarse-grained simulations complete the picture by permitting observation on a significantly longer time scale. We observe conformational transitions in the phosphate-binding loop of pigeon cryptochrome 4 upon activation and identify prominent motions in residues 440-460, suggesting a possible role as a signaling state of the protein or as a gated interaction site for forming protein complexes that might facilitate downstream processes. The findings highlight the importance of considering longer time scales in studying cryptochrome dynamics and magnetoreception. Coarse-grained MD simulations offer a valuable tool to unravel the complex behavior of cryptochrome proteins and shed new light on the mechanisms underlying their role in magnetoreception. Further exploration of these conformational changes and their functional implications may contribute to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of magnetoreception in birds.

Direct interconnection of seismicity with variations of the Earth's electric and magnetic field before major earthquakes

Upon employing the new concept of time, termed natural time, the analysis of seismicity reveals that, before major earthquakes, the variations of the Earth's electric and/or magnetic field are accompanied by increase of the fluctuations of the entropy change of seismicity under time reversal as well as by decrease of the fluctuations of the seismicity order parameter. Hence, natural time analysis reveals that before major earthquakes independent datasets of different geophysical observables (seismicity, Earth's magnetic and/or electric field) exhibit changes, which are observed simultaneously. To the memory of the Academician Seiya Uyeda.

Possible Eoarchean Records of the Geomagnetic Field Preserved in the Isua Supracrustal Belt, Southern West Greenland

AbstractRecovering ancient records of Earth's magnetic field is essential for determining the role of the magnetosphere in protecting early Earth from cosmic radiation and atmospheric escape. We present paleomagnetic field tests hinting that a record of Earth's 3.7‐billion‐year (Ga) old magnetic field may be preserved in the northeastern Isua Supracrustal Belt as a chemical remanent magnetization acquired during amphibolite‐grade metamorphism in the banded iron formation. Multiple petrological and geochronological lines of evidence indicate that the northernmost part of Isua has not experienced metamorphic temperatures exceeding 380°C since the Eoarchean, suggesting the rocks have not been significantly heated since magnetization was acquired. We use “pseudo” baked contact tests (intrusions emplaced 3.26–3.5 Ga ago) and a fold test (folding 3.6 Ga ago) to demonstrate that some samples preserve a ca. 3.7 Ga record of the magnetic field. We recover a field strength of >15 µT. This suggests that Earth's magnetic field may have been weak enough to enhance atmospheric escape during the Archean.

Salient Changes of Earth's Magnetic Field Toward the End of Cretaceous Normal Superchron (CNS)

AbstractChanges in Earth's magnetic field during the Cretaceous Normal Superchron (CNS) spanning ∼121 Ma to ∼84 Ma hold important clues about the geodynamo evolution. Canonical models predict a persistently strong geomagnetic field with low variability during CNS, which, however, has not been observed in the available absolute paleointensity data and seafloor marine magnetic anomaly (MMA) records. The lack of relative paleointensity (RPI) data across CNS further impedes tests of model predictions. Here, we present a ∼9‐Myr (∼94–∼85 Ma) RPI record from a Turonian to Santonian hemipelagic succession from IODP Site U1512 offshore southern Australia. Detailed paleomagnetic and rock magnetic analyses demonstrate that the ratio of natural remanent magnetization (NRM) demagnetized at 20 mT over magnetic susceptibility (MS), that is, NRM20mT/MS, as a reliable proxy for the RPI of the Upper Cretaceous succession. The new RPI record shows marked changes in both intensity and variability at ∼90.8 Ma. Also, the 6 Myr‐long (∼94–∼88 Ma), near‐continuous, ∼1.2 kyr‐resolution RPI record exhibits a strong positive correlation between field intensity and variability. Assuming this correlation holds for the entire CNS, an extrapolated RPI curve for the entire CNS is obtained by integrating the positive correlation with field variability estimates from the MMA data. The extrapolated RPI curve shows a strong and highly variable field in the middle CNS but a weak and stable field at its beginning and ending. These features imply a much more dynamic geodynamo than previously thought, and provide crucial benchmarks for unraveling the geodynamo evolution during CNS.

Contrasting Recording Efficiency of Chemical Versus Depositional Remanent Magnetization in Sediments

AbstractHow and when sedimentary rocks record Earth's magnetic field is complex. Most studies assume a time‐progressive lock‐in mechanism during sediment deposition called depositional remanent magnetization (DRM). However, magnetic minerals can also form in situ, recording a chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) that is discontinuous in time. Disentangling the two mechanisms represents a major hurdle, and differences in their recording efficiencies remain unexplored. Here, our theoretical solutions demonstrate that CRM intensities exceed DRM by a factor of six when acquired in the same magnetic field. Novel experiments growing greigite (Fe3S4) in sediments and subsequent redeposition under identical magnetic field conditions confirm the predicted difference in recording efficiency. Thus, if left unrecognized, CRM leads to overestimated paleointensity and deserves more attention when interpreting Earth's magnetic history from sedimentary records. Recognition of fundamental differences between CRM and DRM characteristics provide a way forward to distinguish the recording mechanisms through routine laboratory protocols.

Magnetic field-to-voltage coefficient evaluation of axial SQUID gradiometer in unshielded environment

Due to the existence of earth magnetic field, it is difficult to detect weak magnetic field from some parts of the body like heart, muscle, nerve and so on. In addition to the requirement for high-sensitivity magnetic field sensors, it is also essential to take certain measures to suppress noise. The axial gradiometer based on low-Tc Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) can achieve a noise suppression ratio of 30 dB through the spatial gradient difference of the magnetic field, but the calibration of the magnetic field-to-voltage coefficient (B-V coefficient) generally requires a magnetically shielded room (MSR), which is complex and costly. With finite element simulation and practical experiments, a calibration method for B-V coefficient of the axial hardware gradiometer without shielding was presented in this paper. That is, a larger calibration field was generated for coefficient evaluation in an unshielded environment. At the same time, when the test signal was far away, the spatial gradient difference was used to improve the authenticity of the evaluation results. Through simulation and experimental verification, for the same performance and configuration of the gradiometer, the calibration result was 1.6 nT/V with 0.1 nT/V difference from that in a shielding room. The results showed that the unshielded evaluation method proposed in this paper was practical and could be used to evaluate the B-V coefficient of gradiometer.

Night-time neuronal activation of Cluster N in a North American songbird.

Night-migrating songbirds utilize the Earth's magnetic field to help navigate to and from their breeding sites each year. A region of the avian forebrain called Cluster N has been shown to be activated during night migratory behavior and it has been implicated in processing geomagnetic information. Previous studies with night-migratory European songbirds have shown that neuronal activity at Cluster N is higher at night than during the day. Comparable work in North American migrants has only been performed in one species of swallows, so extension of examination for Cluster N in other migratory birds is needed. In addition, it is unclear if Cluster N activation is lateralized and the full extent of its boundaries in the forebrain have yet to be described. We used sensory-driven gene expression based on ZENK and the Swainson's thrush, a night-migratory North American songbird, to fill these knowledge gaps. We found elevated levels of gene expression in night- vs. day-active thrushes and no evidence for lateralization in this region. We further examined the anatomical extent of neural activation in the forebrain using 3D reconstruction topology. Our findings demonstrate that Swainson's thrushes possess an extensive bilateral night-activated Cluster N region in the forebrain similar to other European avian species, suggesting that Cluster N is highly conserved in nocturnal migrants.

Magnetic Shielding Implementation in the Small Satellite Reaction Wheel

Low Earth orbit satellites face challenges from Earth's magnetic field, causing attitude disturbances. Attaining a magnetic-dipole-free satellite is crucial. Layout optimization and in-orbit dipole compensation are common methods, but layout optimization can be impractical. In contrast, in-orbit dipole compensation struggles with rapidly changing magnetic dipoles like those from reaction wheel motors. This research proposes an alternative solution using Mu-metal, known for shielding against magnetic exposure. This shield can be applied to trap the magnetic field generated by the motors. Ground tests evaluated this approach. First, it determined the minimum distance between the magnetometer and the shield for accurate measurements with minimal interference, with the result of 10 cm as the least affected distance, particularly important for small satellite layout design. Second, it assessed the shield's effectiveness in trapping the motor-generated magnetic field. Tests showed a significant reduction in magnetic field magnitude and up to a 95% reduction in field fluctuations when the motor is activated. This research offers a practical solution for small satellite layout design, addressing the challenges posed by their compact dimensions. Mu-metal shielding proves effective for mitigating rapidly changing magnetic dipoles and enhancing magnetic cleanliness in low Earth orbit.

Navigation by magnetic signatures in a realistic model of Earth's magnetic field.

Certain animal species use the Earth's magnetic field (i.e. magnetoreception) alongside their other sensory modalities to navigate long distances that include continents and oceans. It is hypothesized that several animals use geomagnetic parameters, such as field intensity and inclination, to recognize specific locations or regions, potentially enabling migration without a pre-surveyed map. However, it is unknown how animals use geomagnetic information to generate guidance commands, or where in the world this type of strategy would maximize an animal's fitness. While animal experiments have been invaluable in advancing this area, the phenomenon is difficult to studyin vivoorin situ, especially on the global scale where the spatial layout of the geomagnetic field is not constant. Alongside empirical animal experiments, mathematical modeling and simulation are complementary tools that can be used to investigate animal navigation on a global scale, providing insights that can be informative across a number of species. In this study, we present a model in which a simulated animal (i.e. agent) navigates via an algorithm which determines travel heading based on local and goal magnetic signatures (here, combinations of geomagnetic intensity and inclination) in a realistic model of Earth's magnetic field. By varying parameters of the navigation algorithm, different regions of the world can be made more or less reliable to navigate. We present a mathematical analysis of the system. Our results show that certain regions can be navigated effectively using this strategy when these parameters are properly tuned, while other regions may require more complex navigational strategies. In a real animal, parameters such as these could be tuned by evolution for successful navigation in the animal's natural range. These results could also help with developing engineered navigation systems that are less reliant on satellite-based methods.

Precise Measurement of Magnesium Isotopes in Fe‐Mg Minerals Using a Multi‐collector SHRIMP Ion Microprobe

The distribution of Mg isotopes in minerals is becoming increasingly relevant in Earth science. Usually, they are determined by dissolving mineral concentrates and, after purifying Mg with ion exchange resins, analysing the resulting solutions by TIMS or, most often, MC‐ICP‐MS. When applied to individual minerals, these methods are slow and prone to contamination from impurities in the concentrates, inconveniences that may be avoided using spot analysis techniques such as LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS or SIMS, albeit at the price of a large instrumental mass fractionation (IMF) and isobaric interferences, most prominent in the former. Here, we studied the potential of the multi‐collector SHRIMP II ion microprobe for measuring Mg isotopes in Fe‐Mg silicates and oxides. We found that, when corrected for the divergence of the Mg ion paths within the sample chamber caused by the Earth's magnetic field, the SHRIMP's IMF overwhelmingly depends on the mineral species, and the effects of variable chemical composition are negligible. We propose that the IMF is caused by the force constant difference, ∆F, between "hard" and "soft" bonds linking the ions of the studied element to the mineral lattice. Given that ∆F is a constant for each mineral species, we calculated IMF‐correction factors for the most common Mg‐bearing minerals. The thus‐calculated correction factors permit the analysis in the same session, and with reasonable accuracy (within ~ 0.3‰ of the δ26Mg determined by SN‐MC‐ICP‐MS analyses of concentrates), of samples from different mineral species, facilitating the application of Mg isotopes to terrestrial studies.

A Lake Record of Geomagnetic Secular Variations for the Last 23 ka From Lake Chala: Toward a Composite Directional Lake Record of the Earth's Magnetic Field for Equatorial East Africa

AbstractThe documentation and understanding of variations in the Earth's magnetic field through time is fundamental for several disciplines, but current geomagnetic models rely on datasets heavily biased toward the mid‐ and high northern latitudes. The African continent and surrounding islands and oceans are particularly underrepresented. Here, we present a new record of paleo‐secular variation (PSV) of the inclinations over the last 23 ka from Lake Chala, situated at 3°S near Mt Kilimanjaro in eastern equatorial Africa. This groundwater‐fed crater lake is characterized by a high sedimentation rate (ca. 1 cm/10 years) and a particularly well‐constrained age model based on 210Pb and 14C dating. The magnetic mineralogy of the sediments is tested with rock magnetic analyses. The Lake Chala inclination record shows four highs and lows over 20 ka and compares well with that of Lake Malawi (10°S) between 20 and 16.2 ka, and from 9.8 to 2.6 ka. This record is linked to PSV records at Lakes Victoria and Malawi using a sequence slotting technique to generate a composite PSV model for east Africa. Analyzed at best‐possible resolutions up to 200 years, the Lake Chala PSV record not only represents an important contribution to improve our understanding of local and global features of the Earth's magnetic field. It also expands the utility of paleomagnetism as a key tool for dating and correlation both for archeological sites throughout East Africa and the many volcanoes, active or dormant, of the East African Rift System.

Rapid Changes in Strength and Direction of Earth's Magnetic Field Over the Past 100,000 Years

AbstractPrevious studies of rapid geomagnetic changes have highlighted the most extreme changes in direction and field strength found in paleomagnetic field models over the past 100 ky. Here we study distributions of rates of change in both time and space. Field models based on direct observations provide the most accurate values for rates of change, but their short duration precludes a complete description of field behavior. Broader representation is provided by time‐varying paleofield models, here including GGF100k, GGFSS70, LSMOD.2, CALS10k.2, HFM.OL1.A1, pfm9k.2, and SHAWQ‐iron age although variability across models and lack of temporal and spatial resolution of fine scale variations make direct comparisons difficult. For the paleofield we define rapid changes as exceeding the peak overall value of 0.4° yr−1 for directional changes and 150 nT yr−1 for intensities as established by the gufm1 model spanning 1590–1990 CE. We find that rapid directional changes are associated with low field strength and can spread across all latitudes during such episodes. Distributions of directional rates of change exhibit high skewness for models that include excursions. Rates of change in field intensity exceeding 150 nT yr−1 arise in brief intervals during the Holocene particularly associated with the strong field Levantine Iron Age Anomaly. Around the Laschamp excursion there are also rare localized occurrences of rapid intensity change. Limitations in current models make it difficult to define absolute rates for past changes, but we see that rapid changes are essential field characteristics not observed in the modern field that should nevertheless be regarded as an essential for Earth‐like dynamo simulations.

The effect of adaptive mesh refinement and grid stretching on the magnetized coronal mass ejection model in Icarus

Context. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the main driver of solar wind disturbances near the Earth. When directed toward Earth, the internal magnetic field of the CME can interact with the Earth’s magnetic field and cause geomagnetic storms. In order to better predict and avoid damage coming from such events, the optimized heliospheric model Icarus has been implemented. Advanced numerical techniques, such as gradual radial grid stretching and solution adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) are implemented in the model to achieve better performance and more reliable results. Aims. The impact of a CME at Earth is greatly affected by its internal magnetic field structure. The aim of this work is to enable the modeling of the evolution of the magnetic field configuration of the CME throughout its propagation in Icarus. Thus, we used Icarus to implement a magnetized CME model that is more realistic than the already available simple hydrodynamics cone CME model, allowing us to study the evolution of the magnetized CME during its interactions with the solar wind. The focus of the study is on the global magnetic structure of the CME and its evolution and interaction with the solar wind. Methods. The magnetized CME model implemented in Icarus is the linear force-free spheromak (LFFS) solution that has been imported from EUHFORIA. Simulations with the spheromak model were performed for different effective resolutions of the computational domain. We applied advanced techniques such as grid stretching and AMR. Different AMR levels were applied in order to obtain high resolution locally, where needed. The original uniform medium- and high-resolution simulation results are also shown as a reference. The results of all the simulations are compared in detail and the wall-clock times of the simulations are provided. Results. We analyzed the results from the performed simulations. The co-latitudinal magnetic field component is plotted at 1 AU for both Icarus and EUHFORIA simulations. The time series at Earth (L1) of the radial velocity, density, and different magnetic field components are plotted and compared. The arrival time is better approximated by the EUHFORIA simulation, with the CME shock arriving 1.6 and 1.09 h later than in the AMR level 4 and 5 simulations, respectively. The profile features and variable strengths are best modeled by Icarus simulations with AMR level 4 and 5. The uniform, medium-resolution simulation with Icarus took 6.5 h wall-clock time, whereas with EUHFORIA, the most similar setup takes 18.5 h, when performed on 1 node with 2 Xeon Gold 6240 CPUs at 2.6 GHz (Cascadelake), 18 cores each, on the Genius cluster at KU Leuven. The Icarus simulation with AMR level 4 took only 2.5 h on the same computer infrastructure, while showing better resolved shocks and magnetic field features, when compared to the observational data and the referene uniform simulation results. Conclusions. The results from different Icarus simulations in Icarus are presented using results from the EUHFORIA heliospheric modeling tool as a reference. The arrival time is closer to the observed time in the EUHFORIA simulation, but the profiles of the different variables show more features and details in the Icarus simulations. The simulations with AMR levels 4 and 5 offered the most detailed results. Considering the small difference in the modeled results and the large difference in terms of computational resources, the AMR level 4 simulation is considered to have displayed the most optimal performance. The gradients in the AMR level 4 results are sharper than those in the uniform simulations with both EUHFORIA and Icarus, while the AMR level 4 effective resolution is the most comparable to the standard resolution runs. The AMR level 3 simulation is 15 and 41 times faster than the Icarus and EUHFORIA uniform simulations, respectively; while the AMR level 4 simulation is about three and seven times faster than the uniform simulations, respectively.

Digitized Continuous Magnetic Recordings for the August/September 1859 Storms From London, UK

AbstractDedicated scientific measurements of the strength and direction of the Earth's magnetic field began at Greenwich and Kew observatories in London, United Kingdom, in the middle of the nineteenth century. Using advanced techniques for the time, collimated light was focussed onto mirrors mounted on free‐swinging magnetized needles which reflected onto photographic paper, allowing continuous analog magnetograms to be recorded. By good fortune, both observatories were in full operation during the so‐called Carrington storm in early September 1859 and its precursor storm in late August 1859. Based on digital images of the magnetograms and information from the observatory yearbooks and scientific papers, it is possible to scale the measurements to International System of Units (SI units) and extract quasi‐minute cadence spot values. However, due to the magnitude of the storms, the periods of the greatest magnetic field variation were lost as the traces moved off‐page. We present the most complete digitized magnetic records to date of the 10‐day period from 25 August to 5 September 1859 encompassing the Carrington storm and its lesser recognized precursor on 28 August. We demonstrate the good correlation between observatories and estimate the instantaneous rate of change of the magnetic field.

What Is life? Rethinking Biology in Light of Fundamental Parameters.

Defining life is an arduous task that has puzzled philosophers and scientists for centuries. Yet biology suffers from a lack of clear definition, putting biologists in a paradoxical situation where one can describe at the atomic level complex objects that remain globally poorly defined. One could assume that such descriptions make it possible to perfectly characterize living systems. However, many cases of misinterpretation put this assumption into perspective. In this article, we focus on critical parameters such as time, water, entropy, space, quantum properties, and electrostatic potential to redefine the nature of living matter, with special emphasis on biological coding. Where does the DNA double helix come from, why cannot the reproduction of living organisms occur without mutations, what are the limitations of the genetic code, and why do not all proteins have a stable three-dimensional structure? There are so many questions that cannot be resolved without considering the aforementioned parameters. Indeed, (i) time and space constrain many biological mechanisms and impose drastic solutions on living beings (enzymes, transporters); (ii) water controls the fidelity of DNA replication and the structure/disorder balance of proteins; (iii) entropy is the driving force of many enzymatic reactions and molecular interactions; (iv) quantum mechanisms explain why a molecule as simple as hydrocyanic acid (HCN) foreshadows the helical structure of DNA, how DNA is stabilized, why mutations occur, and how the Earth magnetic field can influence the migration of birds; (v) electrostatic potential controls epigenetic mechanisms, lipid raft functions, and virus infections. We consider that raising awareness of these basic parameters is critical for better understanding what life is, and how it handles order and chaos through a combination of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Thus, we propose to incorporate these parameters into the definition of life.

Geomagnetic full vector fluctuation in Mexico over the last two centuries: Anomalous record between 1840 and 1940?

Study of the paleosecular variation of the Earth's Magnetic Field is an almost unique way to estimate the critical conditions at the core-mantle boundary. The continuous and quasi-periodic changes in the magnitude and directions (declination and inclination) could be detected from direct instrumental measurements or through the remanent magnetization of volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Burned archaeological artifacts are another reliable source of geomagnetic information. Besides the great efforts in Central and North America to retrieve the fine characteristics of the geomagnetic field during the last centuries, no homogeneous data distribution has still been achieved in Mexico and the surrounding areas. To improve the analysis of the geomagnetic full vector in Mexico, we compiled and updated available data for the last 200 years exclusively based on full geomagnetic vectors obtained from direct historical measurements, magnetic repeat stations, geomagnetic observatories and maritime exploratory campaigns. A relocation error procedure allowed the selection of 658 reliable data, discarding those belonging to the sites located in the most northern part of the analyzed area. The spectral analysis through the second derivatives reveals relatively fast fluctuations in both intensity and directions between 1890 and 1960. Moreover, a marked difference is observed between the Mexican record and global geomagnetic models between 1840 and 1940.

Importance of magnetic information for neuronal plasticity in desert ants

Many animal species rely on the Earth's magnetic field during navigation, but where in the brain magnetic information is processed is still unknown. To unravel this, we manipulated the natural magnetic field at the nest entrance of Cataglyphis desert ants and investigated how this affects relevant brain regions during early compass calibration. We found that manipulating the Earth's magnetic field has profound effects on neuronal plasticity in two sensory integration centers. Magnetic field manipulations interfere with a typical look-back behavior during learning walks of naive ants. Most importantly, structural analyses in the ants' neuronal compass (central complex) and memory centers (mushroom bodies) demonstrate that magnetic information affects neuronal plasticity during early visual learning. This suggests that magnetic information does not only serve as a compass cue for navigation but also as a global reference system crucial for spatial memory formation. We propose a neural circuit for integration of magnetic information into visual guidance networks in the ant brain. Taken together, our results provide an insight into the neural substrate for magnetic navigation in insects.

Particle tracking in snow avalanches with in situ calibrated inertial measurement units

Abstract In the course of an artificially triggered avalanche, a particle tracking procedure is combined with supplementary measurements, including Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning, terrestrial laser scanning and Doppler radar measurements. Specifically, an intertial measurement unit is mounted inside a rigid sphere, which is placed in the avalanche track. The sphere is entrained by the moving snow, recording translational accelerations, angular velocities and the flux density of Earth's magnetic field. Based on the recorded data, we present a threefold analysis: (i) a qualitative data interpretation, identifying different particle motion phases which are associated with corresponding flow regimes, (ii) a quantitative time integration algorithm, determining the corresponding particle trajectory and associated velocities on the basis of standard sensor calibration, and (iii) an improved quantitative evaluation relying on a novel in situ sensor calibration technique, which is motivated by the limitations of the given dataset. The final results, i.e. the evolution of the angular orientation of the sensor unit, translational and rotational velocities and estimates of the sensor trajectory, are assessed with respect to their reliability and relevance for avalanche dynamics as well as for future design of experiments.

Atmospheric Δ14C in the northern and southern hemispheres over the past two millennia: Role of production rate, southern hemisphere westerly winds and ocean circulation changes

The variations of atmospheric Δ14C over the past two millennia are classically attributed to changes in its production rate in the upper atmosphere, which in turn is related to changes in solar activity and the Earth's magnetic field. However, the potential contribution of atmospheric and oceanic circulation changes during this period has not been precisely quantified. This has been achieved here using a coupled climate model simulating explicitly the evolution of the different carbon isotopes, driven by a new estimate of 14C production derived from 10Be measurements, and using different production rates for each hemisphere. Our results confirm that changes in global and hemispheric atmospheric Δ14C are primarily driven by changes in production rate. The very good agreement between our results and observed atmospheric Δ14C also highlights the strong consistency of current interpretations of 10Be and 14C measurements. By contrast, the interhemispheric difference in atmospheric Δ14C is controlled by changes in the intensity of southern hemisphere westerly winds (SHWW) that impact atmosphere-ocean exchange and the upwelling of 14C depleted water masses in the Southern Ocean. Changes in deep water formation in both hemispheres or open ocean polynyas in the Southern Ocean only have a small impact on atmospheric Δ14C over that period. When driven by changes in the SHWW proportional to three existing reconstructions of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) index, the model reproduces some key characteristics of the observed interhemispheric Δ14C gradient. These include the low values in the 15th century and the peak in the 16th century, but there are also clear differences between the experiments and Δ14C observations. This suggests that while SAM reconstructions capture some robust features in the centennial variability, large uncertainties remain.

A Room‐Temperature Operational Alignment Magnetometer Utilizing Free‐Spin Precession

AbstractAn alignment magnetometer based on free‐spin precession (FSP) has been deployed in the geomagnetic range. A linearly polarized probe beam is utilized to create alignment in a buffer‐gas‐free paraffin‐coated natural abundance rubidium vapor cell at room temperature exposed to a pulsed radio frequency field. Furthermore, the utilization of hyperfine‐selective optical repumping employing linearly polarized beams amplifies the proportion of responsive atoms. As a consequence, this leads to a remarkable enhancement in the optical rotation signal. This paper reports measurements with a minor static magnetic field of about 1 inside a four‐layer ‐metal shield, achieving a system noise level of 0.16 ). With a static magnetic field amplitude of 48.5 (in proximity to Earth's magnetic field), the noise level is ).