Numerical simulations show that convection in the mantle shapes the long-term structure of Earth’s magnetic field. The mantle influences the magnetic field by imposing a pattern of cooling that controls the dynamics of fluid flow at the top of the outer core.
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References
Landeau, M., Fournier, A., Nataf, H.-C., Cébron, D. & Schaeffer, N. Sustaining Earth’s magnetic dynamo. Nat. Rev. Earth Environ. 3, 255–269 (2022). A review article that summarizes the geological history of Earth’s magnetic field and how the core dynamo is believed to operate.
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This is a summary of: Mound, J. E. et al. Longitudinal structure of Earth’s magnetic field controlled by lower mantle heat flow. Nat. Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01148-9 (2023).
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The mantle’s influence on the long-term behaviour of Earth’s magnetic field. Nat. Geosci. 16, 292–293 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01149-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01149-8
