A Critique on
"The Earth's Magnetic
Field"
This is a book written by Ronald T. Merrill and Michael W. McElhinny and
is one of the International Geophysics Series Volumes 32 and was copyrighted in
1983.
Chapter 1 describes the history of magnetism and in the final section of this
chapter it is written "In more modern times Einstein, shortly after writing
his special relativity paper in 1905, described the problem of the earth's
magnetic field as being one of the five most important unsolved problems in
physics." I might add that in 1983 it was still an unsolved problem.
The following six chapters seem to be relatively straightforward and I find no
fault with them until I reach chapter 7. In section 7.2.2 (Thermoelectric
Effects) there was a good start, however the magnetic effects of positive
charges were neglected. My theory considers both types of charges and
polarity reversals can then be explained. A magnetic reversal in the dynamo
theory depends on a switching action while my theory reversals depend on a
thermostatic action. Section 7.3 (The Dynamo Problem) is best explained by a
poster presented to AGU Fall meeting in 1998, which read "The Earth's
Geodynamo is Dead." This also applies to the Disc Dynamo as well as those
listed in Section 7.2.3 (Other Models).
Chapter Eight (Origin of the Earth's Magnetic Field 2: Introduction to
Advanced Dynamo Theory) describes the magnetism as a function of currents within
the earth. My theory allows charges rotating around the axis of rotation
sufficient to produce a magnetic field without depending on currents moving
through the earth. The I2R loss would be prohibitive for charges
moving through the earth.
Chapter Nine (The origin of Secular Variation and Field Reversals) give various
models of field reversals based on the dynamo theory which as I previously
described as "The Earth's Geodynamo is Dead." Chapter Ten (Palaeomagnetic
and Dynamo Theory) is an extension of Chapter Nine and the statement "The
Earth's Geodynamo is Dead" can also describe this chapter. Chapter Eleven
and Twelve should wait for a solution to the problem of the earth's magnetic
field.
Finally, the list of references (930) is to be considered one of the most
valuable part of the book and probably the best part.
I recommend that the authors check my two web sites, www.earthsgeomotor.com
and www.earths-magnetic-field-and-how-it-reverses-and-more.com,
and if additional information is needed then one might purchase my book for
$25.00 in U.S. and $35.00 in other countries. Send check or money order to:
Eugene D. Richard
224 Cross Gates Blvd.
Slidell, LA 70461-4132
This additional material added to web site October 15, 2001
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