Modeling and Interpreting CHAMP Magnetic Anomaly Field over China Continent Using Spherical Cap Harmonic Analysis

Based on the CHAMP Magsat data set, spherical cap harmonic analysis was used to model the magnetic fields over China continent. The data set used in the analysis includes the 15′×15′ gridded values of the CHAMP anomaly fields (latitude φ=25°N to 50°N and longitude λ=78°E to 135°E). The pole of the cap is located at φ=35°N and λ=110°E with half-angle of 30°. The maximum index (K max) of the model is 30 and the total number of model coefficients is 961, which corresponds to the minimum wavelength at the earth's surface about 400 km. The root mean square (RMS) deviations between the calculated and observed values are ～ 4 nT for ΔX, ～ 3 nT for ΔY and ～ 3.5 nT for ΔZ, respectively. Results show that positive anomalies are found mainly at the Tarim basin with ～6- 8 nT, the Yangtze platform and North China platform with ～4 nT, and the Songliao basin with ～4-6 nT. In contrast, negative anomaly is mainly located in the Tibet orogenic belt with the amplitude ～ (-6)-(-8) nT. Upward continuation of magnetic anomalies was used to semi-quantitatively separate the magnetic anomalies in different depths of crust. The magnetic anomalies at the earth's surface are from -6 to 10 nT for upper crust, middle crust -27 to 42 nT and lower crust -12 to 18 nT, respectively. The strikes of the magnetic anomalies for the upper crust are consistent with those for the middle crust, but not for the lower crust. The high positive magnetic anomalies mainly result from the old continental nucleus and diastrophic block (e.g. middle Sichuan continental nucleus, middle Tarim basin continental nucleus, Junggar diastrophic block and Qaidam diastrophic block). The amplitudes of the magnetic anomalies of the old continental nucleus and diastrophic block are related to evolution of deep crust. These results improve our understanding of the crustal structure over China continent.

A high resolution lithospheric magnetic field model over China

CHAMP satellite data and ground-based magnetic observations are used and combined to map the lithospheric magnetic field over China by means of the revised spherical cap harmonic analysis(R-SHCA)modeling technique.The magnetic field is described to a spatial resolution of 150 km at the mean Earth’s radius,which represents a good compromise between the resolutions afforded by surface and satellite data.We compare the magnetic anomalies modeled at the regional scale with composite regions containing large-scale of tectonic structures.These regions,including the Tarim Basin and the Tibetan Plateau,are correlated with regional magnetic anomalies at satellite altitude but contain a significant number of small-scale and complex magnetic structures at the mean Earth’s radius.These magnetic anomalies are globally consistent with the known geological features in China but also offer a way to delineate the contours of the geological blocks and to discuss the connection between magnetic anomalies and the heat flow distribution in this region.