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earthly concern is unique in thesolar systemfor a number of reason : It ’s the only planet with a breathable oxygen atmosphere , it ’s cover in fluid piss and it ’s the only celestial body ( that we know of ) to harbour lifespan . An often - overlook gadget characteristic that makes our planet special , however , is that it ’s the only jolty body in the innersolar systemwith strong magnetized pole — your compass would be useless on Mars .
But where do these poles fall from , and what do they do ? To respond these questions , get ’s start with a journey to the center of our planet .
A 3D rendering of Earth’s magnetic field.
Earth ’s core is separated into two layers : the solid inside core and the molten metal outer core . Both layer are made of a cocktail of magnetised branding iron and nickel , with a few dashes of light elements , such as oxygen , silicon and sulfur .
The internal core is extremely dense and hot , like a giant incandescent marble . But the out core is mobile , and it twiddle around this solid passel with its own convective current . It ’s this incessant convection that generates Earth ’s magnetic field , John Tarduno , a geophysicist at the University of Rochester in New York , told Live Science .
relate : What if Earth ’s charismatic theatre of operations disappeared ?
A 3D rendering of Earth’s magnetic field.
As high temperature from the intimate inwardness continuously diversify into the outer core group , it meets material cooled by shell tectonic activity . This cycle drives convection , throw rise to the so - called geodynamo that produces the magnetic area .
Other planets , like Mars and Venus , do n’t have charismatic field , in part because they lackplate tectonics . Evidence suggests that these planet may have once hadself - sustaining geodynamosbut that they petered out for unknown rationality . Mercury does have a weak charismatic field , but it isonly 1.1 % as stiff as Earth’sand does n’t do much to harbor the planet from solar radiation .
As the liquid metal in Earth ’s outer core flux , its motion and high Fe subject matter cause the planet to act like a vast dipolar attracter , with one negatively charged pole and one positively charge pole . Around 80 % of Earth ’s charismatic field is organise this way , but the remaining 20 % is non - dipolar ; rather than work parallel band of magnetic personnel , there are sure regions where the field swirls and Mary Morse Baker Eddy , behaving " like weather patterns that form of plasterer’s float around , " Tarduno say .
These irregular patterns develop uncanny patches in the magnetic subject field — home like theSouth Atlantic Anomaly , a large swath of the Atlantic Ocean where the intensity of Earth ’s magnetosphere dips dramatically . Researchers think this"dent " in the magnetized fieldarises from strange tectonic activity underneath Africa . surface area like the South Atlantic Anomaly are fascinating , but they are also pertain , for a couple of cause .
" The magnetosphere is like a protective envelope,“Joshua Feinberg , a geologist who specializes in paleomagnetism at the University of Minnesota , told Live Science . It helps to deflect vast sum of dangerous solar irradiation away fromEarth , act like a planetwide level of sunblock . In areas where the magnetosphere is weak , extra back breaker of irradiation wetting through , potentially contributing to higher rate of skin cancer .
" Another business organization is the essence on satellites , " Tarduno enjoin . Bursts of radiation from the Dominicus calledcoronal mass ejectionscan pink out satellites and other spacecraft if they are n’t shielded by Earth ’s magnetic playing field . This can have ruinous effects for telecommunications , internet admittance and GPS servicing in anomaly - impacted areas .
The South Atlantic Anomaly may be 11 million year old , according to a 2020 newspaper publisher published in the journalPNAS , and it might be connected to another planetary magnetic - field phenomenon : pole setback .
The account of Earth ’s magnetic discipline is write in ancient lava flows and mystifying - sea sediments . These type of jolty material are rich in magnetic metallic element shard , such as tiny chips of branding iron , which tailor themselves along charismatic - field lines . " Eventually , that original alignment gets locked into the sediments , and we get these deep - time record of how the Earth ’s charismatic field of battle was orient , " Feinberg said .
From these disk , scientist know that our major planet ’s magnetic poles drift over metre . presently , the geographic North Pole is about 310 miles ( 500 kilometers)away from its like magnetic pole(which is technically magnetic south , at the moment ) . And rough every 300,000 years , the poles abruptly leaf , reversing magnetic north and south , allot toNASA .
— Why do magnets have north and south pole ?
— What causes unchanging electrical energy ?
— How many atom are in the evident creation ?
However , the paleogeomagnetic phonograph recording shows that a consummate pole reversalhasn’t happened in about 780,000 years . Some researchers believe this mean thatwe’re due for a flip — and that the strength of the South Atlantic Anomaly could indicate that one is close .
If the poles were to annul , Earth ’s magnetic field would sink to 20 % speciality , perhaps for C . Such an outcome would plunge our current global communications system into disarray . However , other subject paint a picture thata flip is not imminent .
Either manner , Feinberg say , studying our major planet ’s interior and the paleogeomagnetic record will facilitate us understand the complex interplay between the magnetosphere and life on Earth — and perchance help us prepare for future change .
