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• October 26, 2021

Fournier et al. (2021) report on physics-based secular variation forecasts for the international geomagnetic reference field (IGRF). Analysis of satellite data from 2000 onwards reveals that IGRF forecasts are worse at times of fast geomagnetic changes, which are due to processes occurring in the Earth’s fluid outer core. This calls for the implementation of  physics-based forecasting frameworks able to account for these fast changes. Fournier et al. (2021) discuss the achievements and shortcomings of physics-based approaches followed so far, and the challenges that lie ahead. Visit 4d-earth-swarm.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr and www.cheese-coe.eu for more information.

• Fournier et al. (2021): Physics-based secular variation candidate models for the IGRF. Earth Planets Space 73:190, 10.1186/s40623-021-01507-z.

• This article was a Frontier Letter to the special issue of "International Geomagnetic Reference Field - The Thirteenth Generation".