Uploaded November 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Earth's magnetic field is generated by convective motion of the liquid iron in Earth's outer core. Curiously, Earth's magnetic field is also rather well aligned with the planet's axis of rotation. So how are the planet's rotation, convection in the core and the geomagnetic field all connected together?
Here we show analog experiments which demonstrate that Earth's rapid rotation tends to align core convective motions along the direction of the planet's rotation axis. These aligned motions then generate a planetary-scale magnetic field that is preferentially oriented along the rotation axis as well.
Earth's magnetic field is generated by convective motion of the liquid iron in Earth's outer core. Curiously, Earth's magnetic field is also rather well aligned with the planet's axis of rotation. So how are the planet's rotation, convection in the core and the geomagnetic field all connected together?
Here we show analog experiments which demonstrate that Earth's rapid rotation tends to align core convective motions along the direction of the planet's rotation axis. These aligned motions then generate a planetary-scale magnetic field that is preferentially oriented along the rotation axis as well.
