| The Earth's magnetic field - Creation Magazine |
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The Earth's magnetic fieldEd. note: SummaryThe aim of this paper is to give a brief description of the Earth’s magnetic field and the models associated with it. I will be looking at two models; one which is held by the vast majority and the other which I feel is more reasonable.IntroductionFrom very early times the effects of the Earth’s magnetic field have been observed, particularly in the use of compasses and in the spectacular auroral displays near the poles. However, it has only been in more recent times that the laws which govern magnetism and also the strength of this field have been evaluated. At the surface of the Earth this field is very weak compared to many fields which man can produce. However, because of the large distance and the large permeability involved, the quantity known as the magnetic moment is much greater than anything man has produced. B (the field strength) is of the order of 3 x 10-5 Tesla while M (the magnetic moment) is of the order of 8 x 1022 amp. metre.2 The magnetic field has a direction with three components (one North-South, one East-West and one towards the centre of the Earth) and a strength. It has been observed that mappings of lines with equal horizontal intensities show no resemblance to the broad features of geography. On the other hand, it has been shown that this field at a location varies its direction and its strength with time. No general pattern for this change has been found as the changes vary from place to place and from one time to another. The overall pattern of the Earth’s field indicates that it is approximately a uniformly magnetized sphere. Due to local variations, though, the overall picture is one of a field produced by an internal dipole with interference to the regular pattern being produced by local magnetization in the crust. Causes of the fieldThere are three possible causes of this magnetic field. The first is that the Earth is a permanent magnet. This is quickly dismissed for two reasons:
The second possibility is that the rotation of a gravitational body may generate a magnetic field. This implies the discovery of hitherto unknown laws, these laws being effective only on a stellar scale. More knowledge on star behaviour has caused the originators of this theory to abandon it and thus, this also is ruled out. Electric currents produce this fieldThe third and usually accepted notion is that electric currents in the core of the Earth produce this field. What is known about the nature of the Earth's core suggests that it would provide a very good environment for electric currents. That is, that the Earth's core consists of molten iron which has only small resistance even though resistance increases with temperature. The only question that remains is: what causes these currents? This is where the two models branch off. The first suggested solution was given by Horace Lamb in 1883.1 He postulated that the field was the remnant of some original event and that the decay of this field produced currents which slowed down the decay rate. He developed a rigid mathematical basis for his model using the well-known results of Michael Faraday, the principle of self-induction (inducing a current in a path of good conduction when a field is left to decay).
The mathematical solution to this problem gives an exponential decay but Lamb did not have enough data to evaluate the time constant accurately. Today we have one hundred and thirty years of actual physical measurements (real-time data) and the method of least squares shows a good fit for an exponential decay. The only reason for the rejection of this model by the majority of people today is that the time constant gives an extremely ‘young’ age for the origin of this field. For example, using the evaluation of the time constant by Prof. T.G. Barnes gives a half-life of approximately 1400 years.2 Therefore at about 8000 years B.C. the field would have been that of a magnetic star, at about 50,000 years B.C. the field would have been that of a pulsar and at about 1 million years B.C. the Earth would have been vaporized due to the joule heating of the currents in the core. However, the Earth is assumed to be at least 4.5 x l09 years old and so the majority reject this model. The dynamo theoryHaving rejected the idea that the field is a relic of the past, a means must be found of generating and sustaining it. This is normally proposed as a dynamo action in the core. In the laboratory, models have been built to test the feasibility of the dynamo model but it has not been verified. This is because electrical processes do not scale down in the same way as mechanical processes. Therefore, while it may be disproved in the laboratory, we still cannot say anything on a scale the size of the Earth's core. The dynamo uses these principles:
The big question is, are there simple, symmetrical motions which cause the core to act as a self-exciting dynamo? The work of T.G. Cowling3 (1934) shows that no simple, symmetrical motion can produce an exterior field. Nonetheless Elsasser worked out a mathematical description and Bullard explored the possibilities that came forth. These suggestions were all complex motions. Another attempt was noted by J.A. Jacobs who states:
What might cause these fluid motions? There are four possible causes outside of the Earth's gravitational field.
However, the Earth’s gravity may cause motions on inhomogeneities. The first possibility here is chemical differentiation or, that the core is continually growing at the expense of the mantle by the shifting of chemicals. The other possibility is that of thermal convection. Convection currents might be set up by a process of excess heat supply to the core-mantle boundary, excess carried away, or a mixture of the two. Excess heat supplied seems to be ruled out because radioactivity in the core is highly improbable. Concerning the above discussion, Jacobs says that it is not very satisfactory because some values were guesses and many factors were neglected. Jacobs also states:
Barnes states:
However, westward drift and secular variation are cited as phenomena which require motions within the core. These effects are basically annual or regular changes in the direction of the field at specific places with time. Concerning westward drift, there is a large area around Canada which is abnormal when compared to the general effect. Barnes suggests that other variations (this might include westward drift) are due to charges emitted by the sun (or solar winds). To conclude we note that the theory involves much choosing of ‘extreme’ values or ignoring of adverse effects, or very complex and unreasonable motions. Parker says:
PaleomagnetismThis introduces us to the magnetic record believed to be written in the rocks. Many rocks have what is called Natural Remnant Magnetization and this is commonly believed to represent the direction of the Earth’s field at the time of solidification. Therefore, if the dating basis of the geologic column is correct, then the rocks should provide some record of the past history of the field. The strength of the field in the past cannot be measured and this is demonstrated by Chapman and Bartels commenting on E. Thellier’s work:
[Ed. note: the following section on field reversals is out of date, because rapid field reversals have been documented—see The Earth’s magnetic field: Evidence that the Earth is young.] However, using the directions detected, over thirty reversals of the Earth’s field have been postulated for all of geologic time. Problems arise in the form of some conflicting evidence. Professor L. Neel came up with four possible mechanisms for materials to have their magnetization in the opposite direction to the field, two of which have definitely been verified. This raises the question: what does a reversal mean? Rock reversal or field reversal? J.A. Jacobs says:
However, he also says:
To reach this conclusion he dismisses complete self-reversal by viewing that hypothesis through a vast period of time. If the column was laid down at one time, however, much of his reasoning would be invalid. Decay modelI would like to return to Horace Lamb’s original model. To do this, all that is necessary is to remove the assumption that the Earth is 4.5 billion years old. There are many things in nature which indicate a very young age for the Earth. They include: population growth, natural gas and oil pressures, lack of meteorites in the geologic column salt concentrations in the oceans, sediment depths on the ocean floor and in deltas, buildup of helium in the atmosphere, breakup of short-term comets, lack of dust on the moon, presence of fine dust in the vicinity of the Earth, rapid breakup of clusters of stars and clusters of galaxies, trilobites and man—contemporary in the fossil record, dinosaurs and man—contemporary, human artifacts embedded in coal, polystrate tree trunks, etc.11 On the basis of this evidence, the good fit of the model with the real-time data, and the extreme complexity of the alternative, I would suggest that the decay model is a more reasonable description of the Earth's magnetic field. ProblemsHowever, more research should be done into western drift and secular variation by those who hold to the decay model. I would also like to see some work done into how reversals fit into the concept of sediments laid at one time by a ‘flood’. Let me enlarge on some other problems with the dynamo theory.
The only objection to Horace Lamb’s model was the large age assumed for the Earth. Otherwise, not only does his model fit well, but it makes good sense. It is not necessary to assume an old age for the Earth. It is only the prejudice of clinging to uniformitarianism and its offshoots that forces ‘science’ into difficulties in matters like this one. At the time of writing, Brian D. Eglinton was a 3rd year Engineering student from North Adelaide. Related Magazine ArticlesThe Earth’s magnetic field: Evidence that the Earth is young Creation 20:2 (March 1998) References
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