Summary and implications

Question 1

What does current flow in the earth’s outer core generate?

Answer 1

Current flow in the Earth’s outer core generates the Earth’s external magnetic field and magnetosphere

Question 2

What varies over time?

Answer 2

The amount of charged particles arriving from the sun (solar wind), and therefore bombardment of the magnetosphere, varies over time

Question 3

What does it disturb?

Answer 3

This continuously disturbs the electrical charge of ionosphere, further compounded by thunderstorms and lightning

Question 4

What do magnetic field disturbances do?

Answer 4

Magnetic field disturbances then induce telluric currents in crust and mantle by ‘magnetic induction’

Question 5

What is a property of molten magma?

Answer 5

Just like metal objects buried in the ground, molten magma in the Earth’s crust is highly electrically conductive and can therefore be detected