Earth's magnetic poles are caused by convection currents in the liquid outer core.
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 78/100
Earth's magnetic field is widely understood and supported by scientific literature to be generated by a geodynamo driven by convection currents within its liquid outer core.
Evidence for · 5
Energetically expensive dynamo action in Earth's basal magma ocean.
2025 · cited by 2
Discusses geodynamo action and convection in the context of Earth's magnetic field history.
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More for · 4
How Geodynamo Models Churn the Outer Core
2021 · cited by 0
Notes that simulations of Earth's outer core reproduce magnetic fields matching paleomagnetic data through convective processes.
Heterogeneous heat flux from mantle convection simulations : impact on the geodynamo and magnetic reversals
cited by 0
Explains that Earth's magnetic field is generated by convection of liquid iron in the core producing a dynamo effect.
Strong-field dynamo action in rapidly rotating convection with no inertia.
2016 · cited by 0
States that Earth's magnetic field is generated by dynamo action driven by convection in the outer core.
Zonal flow formation in the Earth's core.
2010 · cited by 0
Investigates the turbulent convection regimes of the outer core that drive the geodynamo.