What is the magnetic field of the Earth?
GLOBIO Traveling Teacher says:
Hi Sabrina.
The Earth's magnetic field helps to shield or protect us from charged particles traveling through space - mostly from our Sun. The Sun throws off powerful solar winds and solar storms. Most of these deflect off our magnetic field, but a few particles get trapped in what is called the "Van Allen Belts" in the area around Earth called the Magnetosphere. We can see these charged particles sometimes in the night sky as the Northern Lights or Southern Lights (or called the Aurora borealis (north) and Aurora australis (south)).
Exactly how or what forms the Earth's magnetic field is still being studied by scientists. They think it is probably from a combination the Earth's spinning outer core of molten metal, mostly nickel and iron, and possibly the heat the Earth is generating.
Thanks for the great question,
GLOBIO Traveling Teacher
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