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Dynamo theory of the earth's varying magnetic field

1981; American Physical Society; Volume: 53; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1103/revmodphys.53.481

1539-0756

D. R. Inglis,

Magnetic and Electromagnetic Effects

Various forms of the dynamo theory are presented in a graphic manner. Each of them depends on a flow pattern of presumably thermal convection in the earth's fluid core. The conducting fluid moves in magnetic fields generated by currents induced by the motion. Each of the flow patterns includes vortices, with helicity induced by the Coriolis force, that twist the magnetic fields in such a way as to regenerate an initial field. Some of them involve also differential rotation, with the parts of the core near the axis rotating more rapidly than the outer parts. Some forms of the theory are more successful than others in accounting qualitatively for the various observed aspects of the field, particularly the westward drifts and the occasional polarity reversals. The thermal energy source may be radioactivity of heat or crystallization at the inner-core surface.