Earth's magnetic field, although generated approximately 2,000 miles below the surface, protects the planet's atmosphere from space radiation and solar wind. It is therefore essential to life. However, the strength of the magnetic field decreases rapidly; in the last 300 years alone, its strength has declined by 10%. By first exploring what the magnetic field is and where it comes from, this film is able to postulate the reasons for this rapid decline as well as its potential effects. The proposed ideas rely heavily on expert opinions, computer simulations and physical models. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The magnetic field works like a feedback loop; the combination of magnetism, heat and movement in the Earth's core creates an electric current. This current leads to more magnetism, which then leads to stronger electrical currents, and so on. Ultimately, this complex process creates the global magnetic field. Due to its magnetism, the field moves charged particles away from Earth, thus acting as a shield against solar radiation. Without it, the atmosphere would slowly be destroyed and all life forms would be exposed to deadly radiation. The magnetic field is therefore part of what makes life on Earth sustainable. However, having a magnetic field does not make Earth unique. Magnetic volcanic rock found on the surface of Mars demonstrates that, until about 4 billion years ago, Mars also had a magnetic field. Its core, however, cooled and solidified, stopping the movement that allowed its magnetic field to exist. Because there was no longer a "shield" protecting it, Mars' atmosphere was destroyed by solar winds. This process suggests that if Earth's magnetic field were to dissipate, for reasons similar or different from those on Mars, the planet would also lose its atmosphere and, therefore, the life it supports. Today, scientists can see that the strength of Earth's magnetic field is decreasing by analyzing substances such as volcanic rock and clay pottery. Once cooled, the magnetic particles in these substances align with the magnetic field. These particles therefore indicate the intensity of the field at the time of cooling as well as its direction: that is to say the place where the geomagnetic poles were located at the time of cooling. These analyzes show that it is relatively common for the intensity and direction of the magnetic field to fluctuate; Current estimates suggest that, on average, the direction of the magnetic field changes every 200,000 years. The strength of the magnetic field can indicate when there will be a reversal of the North and South geomagnetic poles. The field is often weak when areas of anomalies are visible. (Anomalies are local variations in the magnetic field whose polarity is opposite to that assumed to be based on location). These variations cancel the polarity of the magnetic field, thereby decreasing its strength. The anomalies will eventually connect, creating larger and larger anomalies until the polarity of the entire magnetic field reverses. It is therefore possible that the current rapid decline in Earth's magnetic field strength is due to the fact that the Earth's magnetic field will reverse (relatively) soon. Due to this weakening, more radiation reaches Earth's inhabitants, thereby increasing cases of skin cancer. Likewise, anomalies currently affect navigation, as does inversion. Keep in mind: this is just one.