Wave-based imaging of Earth’s liquid core from space

Wave propagation is a crucial tool for media imaging; well known applications include medical ultrasounds, geophysical seismic tomography, oceanic sonar, atmospheric radar. Within geophysics, seismic wave sounding has revolutionised our ability to image snapshots of the deep interior structure of the solid Earth. In this proposal, I outline a new but related approach using magnetic sounding to produce new insights into the dynamics of the Earth’s fluid interior.My proposal builds on two recent advances: the current data-rich era of high quality satellite geomagnetic measurements, and new discoveries from my research on hydromagnetic waves in the electrically conducting Earth’s liquid core. Together, they will allow me for the first time to realise Wave-based IMaging of Earth’s liquid Core from Space (WIMECS). Unlike seismic waves, hydromagnetic waves are sensitive to the magnetic field in the liquid core, acting as a waveguide. Probing this otherwise inaccessible property of the core will advance our understanding of the geodynamo, the mechanism that generates the Earth’s magnetic field. These advances will not only improve our knowledge of the structure and history of the Earth including the dynamics of the planetary-scale magnetic field, but also of how the magnetic field shields life on the Earth’s surface from harmful solar radiation. This novel imaging method will be made possible through my move to the University of Leeds, hosting one of the world-leading hubs of geophysical fluid dynamics and geomagnetism.