Whose theory first explained why Earth’s magnetic field reverses over geologic time?
Quick Answer
Brunhes, Matuyama, and later geophysicists established the reversal record, but the geodynamo explanation is most associated with Edward Bullard and Walter Elsasser. The field is generated by fluid motion in the outer core.
The Full Story
Earth’s magnetic field reversals were first recognized in rocks through paleomagnetic studies, but the generation of the field is explained by the geodynamo: moving, electrically conducting liquid in the outer core creates magnetic fields. Walter M. Elsasser was one of the key scientists who helped develop this explanation in the mid-20th century. His work connected core dynamics, magnetism, and planetary physics. The geodynamo remains the accepted model for Earth’s magnetism.
Key Facts
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