Wirral, United Kingdom

Simon LloydGeophysicist

I have a PhD in geophysics from the University of Liverpool. My research combines laboratory experiments, data analysis and computer models of Earth’s magnetic field.

Before moving into geophysics, I worked as a commercial flying instructor.

Portrait of Simon Lloyd
Simon LloydWirral, United Kingdom
Research · Computing · AviationDiscover more ↓
ResearchGate ↗As at
214.9Research Interest Score
212Citations
7h-index
11Peer-reviewed papers
7First-author papers
~2,000Hours as pilot in command
1,600+Flight-instructor hours

01 / My work

Research, computing
and flying.

I worked as a flying instructor before returning to education and moving into geophysics.

At Liverpool, I analysed magnetic measurements from rocks, ran simulations on ARCHER2 and ARC4, and worked on the PINT database of past field-strength measurements. I also organised field campaigns in Brazil and Western Australia.

More about my background

02 / Selected work

Research & computing projects.

All five projects

Computing / Geodynamo

Running and analysing
geodynamo simulations.

Setting up computer simulations, managing the runs and processing the results for comparison.

View project

Data / PINT database

Updating and repairing
the PINT database.

Finding why the website’s age filter returned no results after a database update, and fixing the cause.

View project

Methods / SCOPE

Testing how palaeointensity
results are selected.

Comparing 27 published sets of selection rules and testing approximately 44,000 candidate fits.

View project

03 / Published research

A recent paper.

All publications
Science Advances2026 · First-author paper
Vol. 12, issue 30
1,596Downloads on Science AdvancesAs at

Earth’s magnetic field remained weak for 40 million years after the Cambrian radiation.

This paper reports evidence that the magnetic field remained weak well into the Cambrian. It is one of seven papers on which I am first author.

04 / My background

How I came
to geophysics.

Before university, I worked in warehouse management and commercial flight training, including as Chief Flying Instructor at Air Sofia in Bulgaria.

I returned to education in 2013, completed a first-class geophysics degree and a PhD, and worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Liverpool.

Career, education & engagement