Oldest Measurement of Earth's Magnetic Field Reveals History of
Battle Between Sun and Earth for our Atmosphere
Geophysicists at the University of Rochester announce in the 5
March 2010 issue of Science that the Earth's magnetic
field was approximately half as strong as it is today and that this
weakness, coupled with a strong wind of energetic particles from a
young Sun, likely stripped water from Earth's early atmosphere.
5 March 2010 Science - Geodynamo,
Solar Wind, and Magnetopause 3.4 to 3.45 Billion Years Ago
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News Articles related to the Science publication:
American
Museum of Natural History Science Bulletins - March 25, 2010
Ancient quartz crystals recently
discovered in South Africa by researchers from the University of
Rochester have revealed new information about the history of Earth's
magnetic field. By studying microscopic metals within the
3.5-billion-year-old crystals, researchers determined that Earth must
have already possessed a weak magnetic field at the time the crystals
formed. The young magnetic field would have provided the planet
protection from damaging solar emissions, fostering a more hospitable
environment where life could eventually exist.
Early
Earth's Force Field - Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural
History