Forum:Planetary magnetic fields
Notes (2014)
Some thoughts on Planetary Magnetic Fields, and their effect and implications.
They can shield the planets atmosphere from the local stellar wind, which would otherwise erode/deplete the planets atmosphere. They can shield the surface of the planet from alpha and beta particle emissions from local stellar bodies.
By protecting the atmosphere, they maintain the surface pressure at a level consistent with the planets size, which in turn may prevent water or other liquids from sublimating to a gas.
- So small to medium wet planets would usually have a strong magnetic field.
In short, a healthy magnetic field protects the planet, its atmosphere, and it's inhabitants.
- Small to medium sized Planets with a thin atmosphere may have their thin atmosphere due to a weak or non-existent magnetic field.
Likewise, Small to medium sized Planets having a good thick wet atmosphere are likely to have a strong healthy magnetic field.
We may also infer other information about planetary geology from the planetary magnetic field.
- A strong magnetic field implies that the planet has a hot core (i.e. liquid magma, with a very hot metallic inner core).
This is the most likely mechanism for generation of a planets magnetic field.
A weak magnetic field may exist after a planet has completely cooled, but such a field should be orders of magnitude weaker than that of a similarly sized planet with a hot active core.
An energetic core also effects the geologic or tectonic activity of the planet.
- A hot active core is much more likely to generate vulcanism (active volcanoes) and possibly geological plate tectonics.
A cold core planet may have quakes (due to gravitational or other stress), but not vulcanism.
Post by:
- 21:37, 16 September 2014 Fomyers