The Earth's magnetic field is created by the movement of hot, liquid iron in the outer part of the Earth, called the outer core. This magnetic field is super important for life on our planet. Here’s how it helps:
Shielding Us from Solar Radiation: The magnetic field stretches out into space, forming a protective area known as the magnetosphere. This shield stops about 95% of solar wind particles, which helps keep us safe from harmful radiation.
Helping Animals Navigate: Many animals, like birds and sea turtles, use the magnetic field to find their way around. Studies show that migratory birds can sense these magnetic fields very well, even tiny changes.
Affecting Air Chemistry: The way solar radiation interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field also affects the chemistry of our atmosphere. If we didn’t have this protection, temperatures on the surface could rise, which might affect our climate.
Flipping of the Magnetic Field: Over its history, the magnetic field has flipped direction every 200,000 to 300,000 years. These flips could affect how living things evolve, but researchers are still looking into how much of an impact they really have.
The Earth's magnetic field is created by the movement of hot, liquid iron in the outer part of the Earth, called the outer core. This magnetic field is super important for life on our planet. Here’s how it helps:
Shielding Us from Solar Radiation: The magnetic field stretches out into space, forming a protective area known as the magnetosphere. This shield stops about 95% of solar wind particles, which helps keep us safe from harmful radiation.
Helping Animals Navigate: Many animals, like birds and sea turtles, use the magnetic field to find their way around. Studies show that migratory birds can sense these magnetic fields very well, even tiny changes.
Affecting Air Chemistry: The way solar radiation interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field also affects the chemistry of our atmosphere. If we didn’t have this protection, temperatures on the surface could rise, which might affect our climate.
Flipping of the Magnetic Field: Over its history, the magnetic field has flipped direction every 200,000 to 300,000 years. These flips could affect how living things evolve, but researchers are still looking into how much of an impact they really have.