A generalized Bak-Sneppen model for Earth's magnetic field reversals

Abstract

We introduce a simple model for Earth's magnetic field reversals. The model consists in random nodes simulating vortices in the liquid part of the core which through a simple updating algorithm converge to a self organized critical state, with inter-reversal time probability distributions functions in the form of power laws (as supposed to be in actual reversals). It should not be expected a detailed description of reversals. However, we hope to reach a profounder knowledge of reversals through some of the basic characteristic that are well reproduced.