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Geomagnetic reversals

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Earth's magnetic field is unstable. Not only does it vary in intensity, but from time to time it flips, with the poles reversing sign. Much of this behaviour remains a mystery, but a combination of geomagnetic observations with theoretical studies has been providing enlightenment.

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Figure 1: Earth's magnetic field.
Figure 2: Magnetic field at the surface of Earth's core.
Figure 3: Magnetic stripes on the ocean floor.
Figure 4: Reversal timescale.
Figure 5: Excursions.
Figure 6: Computer models of Earth's dynamo.

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  1. David Gubbins is in the School of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. gubbins@earth.leeds.ac.uk,

    David Gubbins

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  1. David Gubbins
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Gubbins, D. Geomagnetic reversals. Nature 452, 165–167 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/452165a

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