Planet Earth’s

Reversible
Magnetic Field
An account of a possible
explanation
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A possible explanation of the source of the Earth’s Magnetic Field and the periodic reversals
thereof

The generally held notions of the structure of the Earth are of a solid iron core at very
high temperature and pressure, a liquid iron layer between the core and mantle again at high
temperature and pressure, and the mantle carrying the crust, continents, seas and oceans.
This structure invites the question; what mechanical connection exists between the mantle and
the core? The connection can only be a fluid coupling. If one assumes the same period of
angular rotation of a point on the mantle and a point on the core, then the viscous fluid
coupling torque between them would be zero. In the absence of an obvious mechanism
maintaining this state of affairs, then an interesting possibility to consider is whether the
system is unstable, and that for a fluid coupling torque to exist between core and mantle, it
would be necessary for the angular velocity of core and mantle to be different. In other words,
the system of core, molten iron and mantle may be in slow oscillation relative to each other. If
the angular velocity of the mantle is greater or lesser than that of the core, then the fluid coupling
torque between them would be in a sense to restore the angular velocities of core and mantle to
equality.
This is the familiar oscillatory system, and it only remains to speculate on where the
energy to maintain such an oscillation would come from. It may be that there is no constant
input of energy, but that there are occasional gravitational disturbances which either accelerate
or decelerate the mantle relative to the core.
Turning to the question of the Earth’s magnetic field, it is not likely to emanate from
the core. Being at a high temperature the molecular magnets of the iron would not have the
necessary coherence. A more likely source would be circulating electric currents in the liquid
iron between core and mantle. Heat convection is an obvious mechanism for circulation of the
liquid iron. If core and mantle had equal angular velocity wo then convection currents, although
random and chaotic, might be in effect balanced. An idealised diagram is shown in Fig 1.
If the mantle had a lesser angular velocity than the core, then the convection currents might be
unbalanced and skewed by the differential motion (see Fig 2).
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If we assume electrical currents set up by the convection streams, then an unbalanced system
might give rise to a resultant overall magnetic field aligned roughly North / South.
The magnetic fields associated with the individual circulation loops are then seen to be
capable of maintaining the circulating electrical currents. In the hot molten iron dissociation
effects would result in a degree of freedom of the outer electrons of the atomic electron shells
within it. The free electron cloud would be driven outward to the edge of the circulation loop, by
the electromagnetic effect. The relative directions of Current, Field and Motion of moving
electric charge in a magnetic field are given by Fleming’s Left Hand Rule (see appendix 1).
The resulting circulating electron charge cloud constitutes a conventional electric current in the
opposite direction which would be the source of the magnetic field.
Evidently, if relative rotation of core and mantle were in the opposite sense, then the
overall magnetic field would also be in the opposite sense (see Fig 3), and if angular velocities
of core and mantle were equal then the overall magnetic field would be zero or close to zero.
Looking at the current loops in more detail (see Fig 2 and Fig 3), the liquid iron and
electron cloud differential flow is determined by the relative angular rotation of core and
mantle. In Fig 2, mantle angular velocity is less than core angular velocity. The electron flows
are as shown. Conventional current flow is the reverse of electron flow, and adopting this
convention, the Biot-Savart law (see appendix 2) relating to magnetic fields generated by
electric currents gives field directions as shown, resulting in an overall magnetic field in the
present direction. The assumption is made that larger circulation loops give rise to larger
magnetic fields.
In Fig 3, mantle angular velocity is greater than core angular velocity. The electron
flows are as shown, resulting in an overall magnetic field in the opposite sense to the present
direction.
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August 2008

Author: Peter Rogers, BSc Hons 2nd Class Electrical Engineering (Edin) 1966

Appendix 1

Fleming’s Left Hand Rule gives the relative directions of Field, Current and resulting
Force/Motion, when field and current are established first (see Fig 4).
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Appendix 2

The Biot- Savart Law concerns the magnetic fields associated with electric currents.
Amongst other things, the Law gives a clockwise magnetic field when looking in the direction
of travel of a conventional electric current (i.e. opposite to electron flow) (see Fig 5).