Internet Resources

Mantle Convection Cell

An annotated illustration showing mantle convection and its relation to plate tectonics, from the Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State University.

Geodynamo

This page from UC-Santa Cruz gives a description of the Earth's geomagnetic history, with several modeled images of the Earth's magnetic field. Included is a link to a PBS Nova animation of a ...

Origin of the Earth's Magnetic Field

This Knol page gives a brief history of our understanding of Earth's magnetic field, with a discussion of the evolving dynamo theory. It includes supporting figures as well as a Youtube video by J. ...

Magnetic Reversal video

This mpeg video shows the output of a magnetic field model during which a magnetic reversal occurs. The model is superimposed on a stationary Earth to highlight the field changes that would be ...

Numerical dynamo models

This page from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology explains current research modeling geomagnetic processes, including magnetic reversals and secular variation. Includes three supporting ...

Formation of current coils in geodynamo simulations

This Nature article describes experiments used to simulate the formation of a geodynamo. Included figures show convection vorticity, simulated sheet plumes, magnetic field structure near the inner ...

The truth about Earth's core?

This page uses the 1998 movie The Core (1998) to introduce what we actually know or suspect is true about the Earth's core. Includes discussion of current theories and mysteries from Rich Mueller ...

Origin of the Earth's Magnetic Field

This page from the Gauss Centre for Supercomputing describes numerical modeling of the geodynamo which gives rise to the Earth's magnetic field. A still image from their model runs is on the page ...

Magnetic field reversals and secular variation in a bistable geodynamo model

This page on geomagnetic simulations includes brief descriptions (with figures) on multiple research topics, including magneto-convection simulations, magnetic flux in helical flow, modeled magnetic ...

Numerical Models of the Geodynamo

This page from Peter Olson at Johns Hopkins University describes recent geomagnetic research. The page includes several illustrations and an animation of geomagnetic reversal.

Is the Earth's magnetic field about to flip?

This Science Blog page gives an introduction to the nature and characteristics of magnetic reversals, and how this is preserved in the geologic record.

Imagining Earth's Interior

This image from the COMPRES galleries show a dozen conceptions of the structure of the deep earth. The composite image is by Ed Garnero.

Minerals in Earth's Mantle

This image from the COMPRES galleries shows the various mineral species that make up the composition of the mantle and how that composition varies with depth down to the core-mantle boundary.

Probe Earth's Interior with Advanced Radiation Sources

Visualization of the Earth's interior based on sources of radiation.

Capabilities of Experimental Apparatus

This diagram displays the pressure/temperature conditions capable of being simulated with two types of experimental equipment: Piston-Cylinder and USSA-2000. The ranges of conditions are plotted on a ...

CVD Anvil

This image is of a diamond anvil used in high pressure deformation experiments. This particular diamond was created using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. These artificial diamonds have ...

Links to Mineral Physics

This chart shows how mineral physics can be an important part of both research and education across the geology curriculum.

Poster - New Research Directions in High-Pressure Mineral Physics

Large image showing recent research in mineral physics and advances in technology. Features detailed diagrams of various equipment and a short explanation of mineral physics' goals.

Water in the Mantle

This schematic shows a cross-section of the planet and how water can migrate through the deep interior of the Earth. Blue arrows indicate a movement of water downward, yellow arrows indicated ...

High-Pressure Instrumentation

This diagram associates parts of the Earth's interior with particular kinds of experimental apparatus which can recreate it's pressure and temperature conditions.