Magnetic Anomaly Fields Determined from Gradient Measurements at Stratospheric Altitudes and from Magsat Satellite Data

Abstract

The magnetic anomaly fields (MAF) obtained from the data of gradient magnetic measurements at stratospheric altitudes along transcontinental routes, passing over the Russian territory, and from the Magsat satellite data are investigated. The stratospheric gradient measurements are shown to be more suitable for separating and interpreting regional magnetic anomalies of crustal sources as compared to the data obtained at aircraft and satellite altitudes. It is also shown that, at stratospheric altitudes, one should use the device for magnetic field measurements that contains three sensors spread uniformly along the vertical line within four kilometers. This allows us to obtain the rate of MAF change in the stratospheric layer, which makes it possible to study in more detail the geometry of sources and to estimate with high precision (about 1 km) the locations of positive and negative zones of the first (and second) vertical derivatives of MAF. In general, the stratospheric gradient surveys successfully supplement satellite ones.