{"id":10725,"date":"2023-12-12T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/?p=10725"},"modified":"2023-12-01T06:34:08","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T06:34:08","slug":"earths-magnetic-field-protects-life-on-earth-from-radiation-but-it-can-move-and-the-magnetic-poles-can-even-flip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/earths-magnetic-field-protects-life-on-earth-from-radiation-but-it-can-move-and-the-magnetic-poles-can-even-flip\/","title":{"rendered":"Earth\u2019s magnetic field protects life on Earth from radiation, but it can move, and the magnetic poles can even\u00a0flip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n The Earth\u2019s magnetic field deflects particles emitted by the Sun.\n Mark Garlick\/Science Photo Library via Getty Images<\/a><\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\nOfer Cohen<\/a>, UMass Lowell<\/a><\/em><\/span>\n\n

The Earth\u2019s magnetic field plays a big role in protecting people from hazardous radiation and geomagnetic activity that could affect satellite communication and the operation of power grids. And it moves. <\/p>\n\n

Scientists have studied and tracked the motion of the magnetic poles for centuries<\/a>. The historical movement of these poles indicates a change in the global geometry<\/a> of the Earth\u2019s magnetic field. It may even indicate the beginning of a field reversal \u2013 a \u201cflip\u201d between the north and south magnetic poles. <\/p>\n\n

I\u2019m a physicist<\/a> who studies the interaction between the planets and space. While the north magnetic pole moving a little bit isn\u2019t a big deal, a reversal could have a big impact on Earth\u2019s climate and our modern technology. But these reversals don\u2019t happen instantaneously. Instead, they occur over thousands of years<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

\n \"A<\/a>\n
\n The north magnetic pole\u2019s observed locations from 1831\u20132007 are yellow squares. Modeled pole locations from 1590\u20132025 are circles progressing from blue to yellow.<\/span>\n National Centers for Environmental Information<\/a><\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n

Magnetic field generation<\/h2>\n\n

So how are magnetic fields like the one around Earth generated?<\/p>\n\n

Magnetic fields are generated by moving electric charges<\/a>. A material that enables charges to easily move in it is called a conductor<\/a>. Metal is one example of a conductor \u2013 people use it to transfer electric currents from one place to the other. The electric current itself is simply negative charges called electrons moving through the metal. This current generates a magnetic field<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

Layers of conducting material can be found in the Earth\u2019s liquid iron core<\/a>. Currents of charges move throughout the core, and the liquid iron is also moving and circulating in the core. These movements generate the magnetic field. <\/p>\n\n

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