Geodynamo

This talk surveys recent progress in understanding the fundamental operations of the geodynamo, how magnetic field is induced by motions in Earth's iron-rich core, what causes the geomagnetic field to reverse its polarity, and the implications of geomagnetism for Earth's evolution. Particular attention is given to ongoing experimental and numerical efforts to model convection and the magnetic field generation process in Earth's core, the role of the solid mantle and the solid inner core  is sustaining the geodynamo for billions of years, and the far-ranging implications for dynamos in other planets.