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News and Views
Nature 454, 1058-1059 (28 August 2008) | doi:10.1038/4541058a; Published online 27 August 2008
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Earth science: A sheet-metal geodynamo
Ulrich R. Christensen1
Abstract
A decade of modelling Earth's core on computers has led to the belief that we understand what produces Earth's magnetic field. More realistic simulations are now shaking that complacency.
Earth's magnetic field is often depicted as though a gigantic bar magnet resides inside our planet. In fact, the magnetic field is created by strong electrical currents generated by a dynamo process resulting from the flow of molten iron in Earth's outer core.
- Ulrich R. Christensen is at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Max-Planck Strasse 2, 37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany.
Email: christensen@mps.mpg.de
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