Do you know how important the earth’s magnetic field is to our existence? Without it, the incoming solar radiation would ruin us. A new study published in the Earth and Planetary Science Letters journal has hinted that the earth’s magnetic field could not be maintained without the moon’s help.
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When solar wind is released from the sun towards the earth, it is the magnetic field that repels it. Otherwise, it would interfere with the earth’s atmosphere and wipe away life.For there to be consistent convectional currents created in the outer core of the planet, there must be a huge heat difference from the inner core to the outer core. Then this still has to continue between the outer core and mantle.
There is no consensus as to how much the earth’s depths have cooled with since it began to exist around 4.54 billion years back. Some claim that it has cooled by about 572 degrees Fahrenheit. Others claim it has gradually cooled from 12,272 degrees F to 6, 872 degrees F. This means that conventional currents are not producing the Earth’s magnetic field.
What could it be then? Scientists suggest it could be the moon. Though weak, the moon’s gravitational pull on the planet could be sending tides too deep in the outer core, disturbing its liquid contents.
Observations show that the moon still produces about a trillion watts in the outer core of the earth.
This is enough power to cause consistent and efficient convection in the outer core. And this means that the moon, along with the liquid metallic core, could be maintaining the magnetic field that life could not exist without.
Research File; ScienceDirect.com
