Title: Martian magnetic paleopoles: A geostatistical approach

Author(s): Sprenke KF

Source: GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS 32 (9): Art. No. L09201 MAY 3 2005

Document Type: Article

Language: English

Abstract: Various attempts have been made to locate magnetic paleopoles on Mars by modeling individual magnetic field anomalies. In this study, a quite different approach, based on geostatistics, is taken. Discreet magnetic sources form magnetic doublet anomalies in the magnetic field that tend to align with the horizontal direction of magnetization. A semivariogram of radial field polarities on Mars indicates that magnetic field anomalies of opposite polarity tend to be separated by 14°. This phenomenon is interpreted to be due to the presence of magnetic doublet anomalies in the field. Accordingly, the autocovariances of the field polarity along longitudinal lines relative to over 1000 trial paleopole locations were examined. Magnetic paleopoles within about 50° of ( 230° E, 17° N) and ( 50° E, 17° S) were found to best explain the geostatistical structure of the polarity of the martian magnetic field.

KeyWords Plus: PALEOMAGNETIC POLES; MARS; ANOMALIES; CRUST

Addresses: Sprenke KF (reprint author), Univ Idaho, Dept Geol Sci, Moscow, ID 83844 USA
Univ Idaho, Dept Geol Sci, Moscow, ID 83844 USA

E-mail Addresses: ksprenke@uidaho.edu

Publisher: AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION, 2000 FLORIDA AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20009 USA

Subject Category: GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

IDS Number: 926TE