About possible geophysical causes of the decade fluctuations in the length of day

Fluctuations in the length of day (Δlod) can be caused by temporal variations of the inertia tensor described by the excitation function and by disturbances of the torque balance between core and mantle. Recent models of the atmospheric excitation of the variations of the lod certainly failed with respect to longer periods (e.g., at about 70 years), but seem to be responsible for the annual period, the 22 years period and for a part of the nearly 30 years period. So, another geophysical phenomenon is needed which is responsible for the remaining part of unexplained lod variations. Previous studies of the geomagnetic core-mantle coupling were re-examined using lod values from which atmospherically excited parts were removed. The remaining part of the 30 years period could be explained by core-mantle coupling. Additionally, the torque blance was realized by assuming lower values of the electrical conductivity at the bottom of the mantle. It was concluded that the consideration of geophysical processes within atmosphere and hydrosphere will be important for future refinements of the core-mantle coupling models of the decade fluctuations in the lod.

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