Jovimagnetic secular variation

Abstract

Long term variations of a planetary magnetic field are one of the few observables available in the study of planetary interiors and dynamo theory. While variations of the geomagnetic field were accessible to direct measurement for centuries, knowledge of the secular variations of other planetary dynamos is limited. New limits on Jovimagnetic secular variations were found by comparison of a Jovian internal field model obtained from the Voyager 1 magnetic field observations at epoch 1979.2 with the epoch 1974.9 Pioneer 11 O4 model. No significant secular variation of either the magnitude or position of the Jovidipole is found for the years 1974.9 through 1979.2, although a small Earth-like variation cannot be ruled out.