What would happen if Earth suddenly lost its magnetic field?
The most obvious effect is that we would get lost, since our compasses wouldn't work. Less obvious is that without the magnetic field the solar wind would strip away ozone from Earth's atmosphere and leave us exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Would life on Earth look the way it does now? Most, if not all, lifeforms couldn't survive.
Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field (Figure below) that behaves as if the planet had a gigantic bar magnet inside of it. Earth's magnetic field also has a north and south pole. The magnetic field arises from the convection of molten iron and nickel metals in Earth's liquid outer core.
Earth's magnetic field is like a bar magnet resides in the center of the planet.
Many times during Earth history, even relatively recent Earth history, the planet's magnetic field has flipped. That is, the north pole becomes the south pole and the south pole becomes the north pole. Scientists are not sure why this happens. One hypothesis is that the convection that drives the magnetic field becomes chaotic and then reverses itself. Another hypothesis is that an external event, such as an asteroid impact, disrupts motions in the core and causes the reversal. The first hypothesis is supported by computer models, but the second does not seem to be supported by much data. There is little correlation between impact events and magnetic reversals.
- Earth's magnetic field is like a bar magnet through the planet, with the south magnetic pole nearly aligned with the north geographic pole and vice versa.
- The magnetic field is generated by convection in the liquid outer core.
- Occasionally the magnetic field flips, with the north pole becoming the south pole and the south pole becoming the north pole.
Use this resource to answer the questions that follow.
- How often has the magnetic field reversed?
- What creates Earth's magnetic field?
- How is the electric current generated in the outer core? What does this do to the magnetic field?
- What is the energy source for the geomagnetic dynamo?
- What role does Coriolis Effect play in the geomagnetic dynamo?
- What would Earth's magnetic field be like if the planet was solid and why?
- What important role does the magnetic field play for our planet?
- How does the magnetic field resemble a bar magnet?