A telluric current (from Latin tellūs, "earth"), or Earth current,[1] is an electric current that flows underground or through the sea, resulting from natural and human-induced causes. These currents have extremely low frequency and traverse large areas near or at the Earth's surface. The Earth's crust and mantle are host to telluric currents, with around 32 mechanisms generating them, primarily geomagnetically induced currents caused by changes in the Earth's magnetic field due to solar wind interactions with the magnetosphere or solar radiation's effects on the ionosphere. These currents exhibit diurnal patterns, flowing towards the Sun during the day and towards the poles at night.
Both telluric and magnetotelluric methods exploit these currents for subsurface exploration, aiding in activities like geothermal and mineral exploration, petroleum prospecting, fault zone mapping, groundwater assessment, and the study of tectonic plate boundaries. The phenomenon has also captured the imagination of authors, finding its way into fiction. In Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum, the search for a mystic center of the Earth connects to telluric currents, while Thomas Pynchon's Mason & Dixon incorporates them as enigmatic communication conduits alongside Hollow Earth theories. These fictional representations mirror the scientific intrigue and creative potential linked with telluric currents.
^Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Earth Currents" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 813–816. This has a detailed history of observations as understood at the time.
A telluriccurrent (from Latin tellūs, "earth"), or Earth current, is an electric current that flows underground or through the sea, resulting from natural...
primarily composed of silicate rocks Telluriccurrent, a natural electric current in the Earth's crust Telluric contamination, contamination of astronomical...
apart, they can tap telluriccurrents .[citation needed] Earth batteries are sometimes referred to as telluric power sources and telluric generators. One...
Telluric iron, also called native iron, is iron that originated on Earth, and is found in a metallic form rather than as an ore. Telluric iron is extremely...
variation impulse) Telluriccurrents induced ground currents or ground portion of Birkeland current Plasma cosmology claims that Birkeland currents happen at galactic...
field external to the Earth induces telluriccurrents—electric currents in the conducting ground. These currents create a secondary (internal) magnetic...
arises in the ground because of human-made or natural disturbances. Telluriccurrents flow in Earth and the oceans. They have two causes: electromagnetic...
United Kingdom, where the telegraph also was affected, indicated that a telluriccurrent five times stronger than normal was present. During the event, bright...
resulting from a current flowing through normally nonconductive media such as air. Telluriccurrents — Extremely low frequency electric current that occurs...
American mathematician and electrical engineer (1865–1923) Telluriccurrent – Natural electric current in the Earth's crust Nikola Tesla in popular culture...
Songline – Aboriginal Australian belief and practice Telluriccurrent – Natural electric current in the Earth's crust Tunnels in popular culture – Appearance...
Electromagnetism Earth's magnetic field Sprites and lightning Whistler (radio) Telluriccurrent Other Electrodynamic tether Solar radiation See Flashes in the Sky:...
of inverse problem Solution of forward problem Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) Magnetotellurics Seismo-electromagnetics Telluriccurrent v t e...
the epicenter of impending earthquakes from precursor changes of the telluriccurrent", Proceedings of the Academy of Athens, 56: 434–446 Varotsos, P.; Kuhlanek...
Geophysics Earth's magnetic field Sprites and lightning Space charge Telluriccurrents Le Monnier, L.-G.: "Observations sur l'Electricité de l'Air", Histoire...
detection of underground mineral sources detection of the Earth's telluriccurrents and magnetic fields location of lost objects location of missing persons...
electric currents in the earth called telluriccurrent. They can be installed anywhere in the ground. They provide only low voltages and current. They were...
the atmosphere, creating the ionosphere, Van Allen radiation belts, telluriccurrents, and radiant energy. Is a science that bases its more general knowledge...
regular intervals. In 1862, he devised a three-dimensional chart, named the "telluric helix", after the element tellurium, which fell near the center of his...
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