Theories of the Earth's Magnetism

Abstract

The earth's core may be assumed to consist of fluid metal surrounding a solid inner core which probably contains a source of heat to drive convection, but it is not possible at present to select between various possible types of convective motion in the fluid core. Types considered are characterized by some sort of radial flow streams and a tendency for the fluid to rotate on the average more rapidly near the axis to conserve angular momentum during the circulation. Though the actual flow may be quite complicated, proposed mechanisms for generating a terrestrial magnetic field are considered for some oversimplified flow patterns in an attempt to indicate what features of the flow may provide the most important possibilities for field generation. It is suggested that, without a field to absorb the energy, the flow would be accelerated indefinitely and would evolve through a succession of flow patterns, some of which would be expected to have the properties to generate a field capable of preventing further acceleration and prolonging the status quo, thus making it likely that the earth should have a field.