地磁场的西向漂移和差动旋转

The westward drift is one of the most important characteristics of the secular variations in the main geomagnetic field. The drift exists not only in the main field itself, but also in the secular variation field of the main field. Based on the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) models for 1900-2000 and the secular variation model for the period 2000-2005, the characteristics of the westward drift are studied in this paper on several aspects, such as, the bulk rotation and differential rotation of the main field, the dipersion of the drift rates, as well as the westward drift in the secular variation field. The bulk drift and its temporal changes in the main field are analyzed. The results show that the average drift rate during 20th century is 0.183°/α, and the transitions of the drift rate are closely related with the occurrence of geomagnetic jerks. The calculation of the westward drift at various latitudes reveals a latitudinal dependence of the westward drift rate, implying that the geomagnetic field rotates in a differential fashion, instead of rigid rotation. The maximum westward drift is found near the 15°