Turbulence in the Geomagnetic Field at Earth Surface

Abstract

We investigated turbulence-like behavior in the geomagnetic field using ground-based magnetic observatory data across China. Through analysis of spatial and temporal structure functions, we find power-law scaling consistent with Kolmogorov-like turbulence under extended self-similarity. We also identify significant correlations between vertical geomagnetic field variations and large earthquakes. The combination of turbulent characteristics with these correlations suggests a physical mechanism where solar activity provides energy that is transferred through turbulent processes to smaller scales, potentially contributing to earthquake triggering.