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Name:  Bob W.
Status:  other
Age:  40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000-2001
Question:
What is the strenght of the earth's magnetic field, either in gauss or tesla?

Replies:
The earth's magnetic field strength is about 0.3 gauss. Keep in mind that it is not well understood what the origin of that magnetic field is. Most of it comes from postulated rotation of a conducting molten core, but some comes from movement of the ionosphere. Also the location of the magnetic pole has drifted significantly since its location has been tracked from the 1800's and that it wobbles because it does not coincide with the geological rotational axis. And even the geological axis is not fixed but changes due to a number of effects. It is all quite interesting, but complicated.

Vince Calder


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