Application of the relocation-error distribution on geomagnetic databases. Analyses on the «Historical Italian Geomagnetic Data Catalogue»

Abstract

The reliability of the Historical Italian Geomagnetic Data Catalogue, comprising 536 directions and 393 intensities, has been assessed by comparing the historical geomagnetic measurements with the GUFM1 model predictions. Such measurements were assessed at three selected relocation centres. For all the data contained in the Catalogue it has been calculated the discrepancy between the relocated data and the GUFM1-model prediction at the relocation centres. There is a correlation between relocation distance and the mean discrepancy. The upper limit of discrepancy assumable as relocation error has been selected using error distributions previously calculated using geomagnetic field models. Angular and intensity threshold lines have been slightly shifted upwards to account for the estimated error of GUFM1 model itself at the considered region, mainly due to the crustal field. The Italian database proved to contain reliable data, as only a very low percentage of data (namely 14 directions and 20 intensities) can be considered anomalous. Possible explanations for such questionable data are suggested. All the remaining data of this catalogue could thus be added to the databases used to produce regional or global geomagnetic models.