Application of Spherical Cap Harmonic Analysis on CHAMP satellite data to develop a lithospheric magnetic field model over southern Africa at satellite altitude

Abstract

Abstract We apply a Spherical Cap Harmonic Analysis technique on CHAMP satellite data recorded over southern Africa between 2007.0 and 2009.0 epochs, and develop a Southern African Lithospheric Magnetic Model (SALMM) at satellite altitude. The comparative evaluation of the SALMM with the global model MF7 shows a good agreement in the Y and Z field components that are not much contaminated by external field contributions. We use the Z lithospheric field map to confirm the prominent long-wavelength anomalies over the southern African region and its surrounding ocean areas, discussing the underlying geological and tectonic structures of the identified crustal anomalies.