AboutDr Thomas Bell Expertise I can answer questions regarding surface earth processes and the chemical transformations that sediments and rocks undergo with burial. I can also answer questions regarding deep time, the evolution of the elements, and the last 4.5 billion years of earth history. I specialize in metallic ore forming processes, the major geologic time periods when they were produced and what they tell us about the evolution of our planet. Learn more about my professional interests at Stratamodel.com.
Experience I am a professional consulting geologist with a background in the petroleum, mining, environmental, and geotechnical industries with over 25 years of experience.
Education/Credentials Ph.D., Geology, University of California at Berkeley, 1984
M.A., Geology, University of California at Berkeley, 1980
B.S., Geology, San Jose State University, 1978
Question I was wondering if some places on earth have more magnetism than other places? Like kind of other poles besides the north and south, or maybe areas that have a lot of the types of materials that help make the earth poles work? And if so, maybe there is a map somewhere that shows the more magnetic areas?
Answer James,
Our planet's magnetic field varies in intensity and direction everywhere on Earth and both of those values are constantly changing. The magnetic field is driven by convection of molten iron in the outer core as it circulates around the solid iron inner core. The size, shape, and distribution of these cells changes with time driving changes in the magnetic field.
Earth's magnetic field appears to be undergoing one of its regular changes in polarity where the south magnetic pole becomes the north magnetic pole. After one of these magnetic reversals, a compass needle will point south instead of north. No one is quite sure how long the interlude between this collapse of the field lasts but it could prove to be a serious natural disaster for our civilization. The solar wind, a stream of charged particles given off by the sun, are safely diverted around Earth by our magnetic field, protecting us from the intense radioactive bombardment that could otherwise create problems for life on Earth. There is no evidence that past collapses have had any effect on life on Earth and our atmosphere is thick enough to actively filter out an increase in radiation. The impact on our communications networks could be another matter. Disruptions due to solar flares are already a measurable problem and if the magnetic field collapses, we might expect to see even more problems.
