The effects of different parameter regimes in geodynamo simulations

Over the past 10 years, geodynamo simulations have grown rapidly in sophistication. However, it is still necessary to make certain approximations in order to maintain numerical stability. In addition, models are forced to make assumptions about poorly known parameters for the Earth’s core. Different magnetic Prandtl numbers have been used and different assumptions about the presence of radiogenic heating have been made. This study examines some of the consequences of different approximations and assumptions using the Glatzmaier–Roberts geodynamo model. Here, we show that the choice of magnetic Prandtl number has a greater influence on the character of the magnetic field produced than the addition of a plausible amount of radiogenic heating. In particular, we find that prescribing a magnetic Prandtl number of unity with Ekman number limited by current computing resources, results in magnetic fields with significantly smaller intensities and variabilities compared with the much more Earth-like results obtained from simulations with large magnetic Prandtl numbers. A magnetic Prandtl number of unity, with both the viscous and magnetic diffusivities set to the Earth’s magnetic diffusivity, requires a rotation rate much smaller than that of the Earth for currently reachable Ekman numbers. This results in a reduced dominance of the Coriolis forces relative to the buoyancy forces, and therefore, a reduction in the magnetic field intensity and the variability compared to the large Prandtl number cases.