Magnetic dip poles

Question 1

What are magnetic dip poles?

Answer 1

Magnetic dip poles are measured points on the earth’s surface where the total field vector is vertical

Question 2

What are they not?

Answer 2

Not antipodal (i.e. straight line axis drawn between them will not go through the centre of the earth)

Question 3

Why are they difficult to measure?

Answer 3

They are difficult to measure due to remoteness, fluctiations in the magnetosphere, variable crustal rock magnetic properties

Question 4

What are geomagnetic poles?

Answer 4

Are the points on the Earth’s surface where the axis of the Earth’s magnetic field intersects the Earth’s surface

Question 5

What are the two geomagnetic poles?

Answer 5

The North and South geomagnetic poles. The north is the point where the axis of the Earth’s magnetic field points vertically downwards while the south is the point where the axis points vertically upwards

Question 6

What do geomagnetic poles mark?

Answer 6

The earth’s rotation axis

Question 7

What is the difference between them?

Answer 7

Geomagnetic axis passes through the centre whereas the magnetic dip axis does not

Question 8

What is another difference?

Answer 8

Geomagnetic pole does not move drastically whereas magnetic dip poles move considerable especially in the north

Question 9

What is the earth’s magnetic field generated by?

Answer 9

The earth’s magnetic field is generated by the movement of molten iron within its outer core