Geomagnetic latitude
Encyclopedia
Geomagnetic latitude is a parameter analogous to geographic latitude
, except that bearing is with respect to the magnetic poles, as opposed to the geographic poles.
An approximation of magnetic latitude may be made with the dipole model of the Earth's magnetic field
, or a more accurate measure may be made with the International Geomagnetic Reference Model
.
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
, except that bearing is with respect to the magnetic poles, as opposed to the geographic poles.
An approximation of magnetic latitude may be made with the dipole model of the Earth's magnetic field
Dipole model of the Earth's magnetic field
The dipole model of the Earth's magnetic field is a first order approximation of the rather complex true Earth's magnetic field. Due to effects of the interplanetary magnetic field, and the solar wind, the dipole model is particularly inaccurate at high L-shells , but may be a good approximation...
, or a more accurate measure may be made with the International Geomagnetic Reference Model
International Geomagnetic Reference Model
The International Geomagnetic Reference Field is a standard mathematical description of the Earth's main magnetic field. It is the product of a collaborative effort between magnetic field modellers and the institutes involved in collecting and disseminating magnetic field data from satellites and...
.
See also
- Earth's magnetic fieldEarth's magnetic fieldEarth's magnetic field is the magnetic field that extends from the Earth's inner core to where it meets the solar wind, a stream of energetic particles emanating from the Sun...
- Dipole model of the Earth's magnetic fieldDipole model of the Earth's magnetic fieldThe dipole model of the Earth's magnetic field is a first order approximation of the rather complex true Earth's magnetic field. Due to effects of the interplanetary magnetic field, and the solar wind, the dipole model is particularly inaccurate at high L-shells , but may be a good approximation...
- L-shellL-shellThe L-shell, L-value, or McIlwain L-parameter is a parameter describing a particular set of planetary magnetic field lines. Colloquially, L-value often describes the set of magnetic field lines which cross the Earth's magnetic equator at a number of Earth-radii equal to the L-value...