Solar storms' affect on Earth's magnetic poles

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Last Post 3/21/2011 10:32 AM by Kris Sigsbee

Solar storms' affect on Earth's magnetic poles

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Anonymous

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3/21/2011 9:47 AM
I read that recently the Earth's magnetic poles shifted some degrees. I also read that there was a large magnetic storm from the Sun that hit the northern part of the Earth. Is there any relation between the magnetic storm and the magnetic polar shift?

Tags: Magnetic Poles, Geomagnetic Storms, magnetic field, core, magnetic storm, magnetic polar shift, iron, solar activity, dynamo

Kris Sigsbee

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Posts:415

3/21/2011 10:32 AM
Hello, While solar activity can cause geomagnetic storms and large perturbations in the Earth's magnetic field, there does not appear to be a relation between these kinds of activity and the drift of the Earth's magnetic poles. The drift in the location of the Earth's magnetic poles is actually caused by changes in the magnetic dynamo that is believed to exist deep inside the Earth's core. The Earth is thought to have a solid inner core of iron, and a molten outer of liquid iron. It is the motion of this outer core that generates the Earth's strong magnetic field and causes changes in the location of the magnetic poles. You can read more here: http://science.nasa.gov/s...29dec_magneticfield/ Kris