Earth's magnetic field, illustration. The Earth acts as a magnet. In the diagram the south pole of the imaginary magnet attracts the north-pole of a compass. Magnetic field lines (blue) can be seen emerging from the south magnetic pole and converging at the north magnetic pole, which is offset from the geographic north pole by 11 degrees. The field, which closely resembles that of a bar magnet, is thought to be generated by the dynamo effect. Inside the Earth's outer core, convection heating causes cells of ionised metal to rise and fall in a circular motion. These act like gigantic electrical currents, which in turn generate the magnetic field. | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library |
Bildgröße: | 4181 px × 4181 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |