Magnetometers aboard satellites (e.g. POGO and Magsat) have recorded anomalies that provide a unique perspective on the thermal regime and nature, thickness, and evolution of the Earth's lithosphere; as a result, these anomalies aid in the identification of geologic provinces of interested in petroleum and mineral exploration. The literature regarding the uses of satellite magnetic anomalies is vast, but the daunting task of summarizing it was achieved in a recent book by Bob Langel and Phil Hinze.
The present data (~ 400 km elevation) have near global coverage and give useful information at long wavelengths (~ 500-3000 km), the part of the spectrum in which data from conventional aeromagnetic surveys are incomplete. Because longer wavelengths contain information from deeper sources, the data have increased our awareness of the strong magnetization of the upper mantle. As we show in this short article, the individual strengths of aeromagnetic and satellite data may be combined into a more effective and complete spectrum of the anomaly field. Moreover, upcoming lower-altitude satellites will record anomalies with better resolution and significantly greater altitudes.