The Magnetic Field of Earth was Saved by Geodynamics
The sad day you thought you had can’t be compared with the fact that 565 million years ago the Earth almost lost all of its magnetic field. According to a new study, the Earth’s magnetic field’s savior was a geo-dynamic phenomenon.
The study got published in Nature Geoscience, and it shows how the core of the Earth started to harden when it was still young and liquid, and thanks to that the magnetic field got stronger, and it prevented the Earth from being zapped by the radiation that is abundantly prevalent in space and solar winds.
The researchers wrote in the study that a hyper-reversal frequency is suggested by 14 directional data sets and other factors. In addition to that, the unusual behavior of the field is indicated by extraordinary low field strengths that along with predictions of geodynamo simulations, Ediacaran onset age of inner core growth and high thermal conductivities.
Samples of clinopyroxene and plagioclase from eastern Quebec, Canada were looked at by researchers, and they found that inside of them there are magnetic needles that measure needles approximately 50 to 100 nanometers in size. The researchers were surprised by this discovery.
John Tarduno, the study co-author, told LiveScience that the tiny magnetic particles could be considered amazing magnetic recorders. They lock in a record of the magnetic field of the earth when they cool, and that is maintained for billions of years.
Furthermore, the researchers were able to determine that inside the crystals their particles had a very low charge and that the Earth used to be at a critical point where its dynamo almost went down for good.
The geodynamo causes the maintenance and growth of the magnetic field and once is got a proverbial jump start from the core of the earth hardening the charged particles did not stop from moving, and it brought strength to the magnetic field.
As our second lead editor, Anna C. Mackinno provides guidance on the stories Great Lakes Ledger reporters cover. She has been instrumental in making sure the content on the site is clear and accurate for our readers. If you see a particularly clever title, you can likely thank Anna. Anna received a BA and and MA from Fordham University.
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