Earth's magnetic field

The **Earth’s magnetic field** is the magnetic field which surrounds the Earth. It is sometimes called the _geomagnetic field_.

The Earth’s magnetic field is created by the movement of molten materials such as iron and nickel in the outer core and also the rotation of the Earth and Earth's core. It shields the Earth against harmful particles in space. The field is unstable and has changed often in the history of the Earth. As the Earth spins, the two parts of the core move at different speeds and this is thought to generate the magnetic field around the Earth as though it had a large bar magnet inside it.

The magnetic field creates magnetic pole<nowiki/>s that are near to the geographical poles. A compass uses the geomagnetic field to find directions. Many migratory animals also use the field when they travel long distances each spring and fall.

## Characteristics

The Earth’s geomagnetic field is created by two things. The convection in the liquid conducting core inside the center of the Earth is important for making the magnetic field. When convection occurs in the electrical currents around the Earth, the magnetic field is created. The Earth’s rotation is what keeps the magnetic field up. The interaction between the convective motions and the electrical currents creates a dynamo effect.

The intensity of the magnetic field is greatest near the magnetic poles where it is vertical. The intensity of the field is weakest near the equator where it is horizontal. The magnetic field’s intensity is measured in gauss.

The magnetic field has decreased in strength through recent years. In the early 21st century the field has decreased its strength 1.7%, on average.  In some areas of the field, the strength has decreased as much as 10%.  The reversal might happen in the next few thousand years.  It has been shown that the movement of the magnetic poles is related to the decreasing strength of the magnetic field.

A geomagnetic reversal is when the north magnetic pole and south magnetic pole trade places.  This has happened a few times in the past few million years.  The magnetic reversal happens after the strength of the field reaches zero.  When the strength begins to increase again, it will increase in the opposite direction, causing a reversal of the magnetic poles.  The time it takes the magnetic field to undergo a reversal is unknown, but can last up to ten thousand years.

### Magnetosphere

The magnetosphere is created by the magnetic field. It is the area around the Earth that acts as a shield against the harmful particles in solar wind.  The magnetosphere has many different layers and structures, and solar wind shapes each of these layers. The interaction of solar wind and the magnetosphere also causes the Northern and Southern Lights to appear. The magnetosphere is very important in protecting the Earth against solar storms which increase solar wind activity. Solar storms can cause geomagnetic storms which sometimes have serious affects on the Earth.

The areas in between the north and south magnetic poles are the magnetic field lines. These lines leave the Earth from the vertical point of the South and reenters through the vertical point of the North. These two vertical points are called magnetic dip poles. The magnetic dip poles are commonly referred to as the magnetic pole<nowiki/>s.  The magnetic poles intersect the Earth at two points.  The north magnetic pole intersects the Earth at 78.3 N latitude and 100 W longitude.  This places the north magnetic pole in the Arctic Circle.  The south magnetic pole intersects the Earth at 78.3 S latitude and 142 E longitude.  This places the south magnetic pole in Antarctica.  The magnetic poles are also where the magnetic fields are the strongest.

## Earth's magnetic poles

Like other magnetic fields, the Earth's magnetic field has magnetic pole<nowiki/>s.

The North Magnetic Pole is the point on the surface of Earth's northern hemisphere where the planet's magnetic field points vertically downwards. There is only one place where this occurs, near to (but distinct from) the Geographic North Pole.

Its southern hemisphere counterpart is the South Magnetic Pole. Since the Earth's magnetic field is not exactly symmetrical, a line drawn from one to the other does not pass through the geometric centre of the Earth.

The North Magnetic Pole moves over time due to magnetic changes in the Earth's core. In 2001, it was near Ellesmere Island in northern Canada at .  As of 2015, the pole is thought to have moved east beyond the Canadian Arctic territorial claim to .

The Earth's North and South Magnetic Poles are also known as **Magnetic Dip Poles**, referring to the vertical "dip" of the magnetic field lines at those points.

## Migratory animals

Animals which take long migrations may depend on the magnetic field for a guide.

Some migratory animals know their locations by the intensity of the field. They know the time because of circadian rhythms the field produces. Migratory animals are born with a magnetic map in their head that allows them to migrate great distances safely. Their ability to sense the magnetic field is because of magnetic particles. Other animals have a different mechanism.