The purpose of this thesis was to study the geomagnetic variation anomaly at Kootenay Lake, B.C., first reported by Hyndman in 1963. The anomaly is characterized by a very high correlation between the vertical and horizontal north-south geomagnetic components; this indicates anomalous currents striking magnetic east-west, to the south of Kootenay Lake. During the summer of 1968, twenty recording stations were set up in the Kootenay Lake area, using four Askania variographs and three fluxgate magnetometers. Spectral analysis shows that the main 'low I - high I' discontinuity was traversed over a relatively short distance on a north-south profile, to the south of Kootenay Lake. Polarization studies indicate anomalous currents striking magnetic east-west in the same general area of the above discontinuity. The model proposed is a localized distortion of the main 'low I - high I’ discontinuity, resulting in a well defined conductivity step, striking magnetic east-west, to the south of Kootenay Lake. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Four portable magnetometer stations were set up at intervals of 80 - 100 kilometers along an east-west profile running from Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island to Abbotsford on the mainland in order to study the spatial dependence of the coastal anomaly. These were supplemented by records from the permanent Victoria Magnetic Observatory. The Tofino-Abbotsford chain extends and partly overlaps an earlier chain of stations set up to search for geomagnetic anomalies, along an east-west profile from Lethbridge, Alberta to Vancouver, British Columbia, The coastal anomaly recorded at Tofino is observed exclusively in the vertical component, diminishing rapidly inland and reaching its maximum value when the inducing field changes in approximately an east-west direction with a frequency between one and two cycles per hour. The horizontal and vertical variations are in a ratio of two to one at the coast which is in agreement with induction ratios calculated at coastlines in Australia and California. The directional dependence and limited spatial extent of the anomaly indicate a rather shallow conductivity discontinuity, at most 100 kilometers deep, running approximately parallel to the continental shelfline. Since at the maximum response frequency the upper mantle beneath the ocean is largely shielded by the overlying wedge of sea water, the anomaly is thought to be mostly due to the conductivity contrast between the deep ocean and the continent. The diurnal geomagnetic variations which pass through the surface layers virtually unattenuated show at least a twenty five percent enhancement in the vertical component from Abbotsford to Tofino. This anomaly perhaps reflects a change in upper mantle conductivity more accurately than does the higher frequency Tofino anomaly. At a still higher frequency of three cycles per hour where the Tofino anomaly is already reduced, there is a small anomaly in the vertical component at Westham Island on the east side of Georgia Strait which is completely absent at lower frequencies. The influence of a shallow body of sea water such as Georgia Strait is expected to be small. Hence this anomaly is probably due to a conductivity structure beneath the Strait in the crust or upper mantle. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC's) in B. C. Hydro's 500 kV transmission system have in the past been responsible for the generation of harmonics of 60 Hz, system voltage drops, and misoperation of relay units. Characterization of the associated magnetic storms' spatial scales would further the understanding of GIC generation in the area, and allow advanced warning of potential problems in future power transmission projects. Data collected in 1984 at four substations were analysed to determine lateral variations in geomagnetically induced earth surface electric fields. Inversion techniques were employed to find a variety of solutions that would reproduce the data. Results suggested that the magnetic storms were larger than the area monitored, and that resultant electric fields seen by a large portion of the transmission grid were uniform. Departures from this uniformity in other portions of the electric field models were felt either to be due to earth induction effects, or in some cases, to be artifacts of the data analysis techniques. An experiment designed to determine the controlling factors behind GIC's is outlined. Considerable effort would be required to explicitly determine all electric fields affecting the transmission system / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

This thesis is an account of the investigation into the physical nature of the proposed discontinuity in upper mantle conductivity in south eastern British Columbia responsible for the change in appearance of geomagnetic variations reported by Hyndman (1963). Variometer stations were established along two profiles, one east-west and one north-south, each several hundred kilometers in length. The geomagnetic records thus obtained are used to estimate the depth to a proposed highly conducting substratum. Parkinson diagrams are also derived for many stations on the profiles. The theoretical problem of magnetic induction in a 2-layer horizontally stratified half-space is solved. Theoretical expressions are derived for the attenuation of power in the vertical component of the earth's magnetic field relative to the two horizontal components as a function of frequency, conductivity, and thickness of the top layer. These theoretical curves are compared to data determined experimentally by power spectral analysis of geomagnetic records recorded at Crowsnest, Alberta, Lethbridge, Alberta; and Grand Forks, B.C. This analysis indicates Kootenay Lake to be near a region of anomalous induction in the earth. If the conductor is assumed to be two dimensional its strike appears to be magnetic east-west. The observed attenuation of the vertical component at stations west of Kootenay Lake relative to those of Kootenay Lake is accounted for in terms of the upheaval in the west of a highly conducting substratum. The analysis indicates a layer of conductivity 10⁻¹¹ e.m.u. rises to within 10 km. of the surface in the west while lying at a depth of 100 km. or more in the east. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate