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The Conversation
The Conversation
Ofer Cohen, Associate Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, UMass Lowell

Earth's magnetic field protects life on Earth from radiation, but it can move, and the magnetic poles can even flip

The Earth's magnetic field deflects particles emitted by the Sun. Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

The Earth’s magnetic field plays a big role in protecting people from hazardous radiation and geomagnetic activity that could affect satellite communication and the operation of power grids. And it moves.

Scientists have studied and tracked the motion of the magnetic poles for centuries. The historical movement of these poles indicates a change in the global geometry of the Earth’s magnetic field. It may even indicate the beginning of a field reversal – a “flip” between the north and south magnetic poles.

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