Discovery of Earth's Ancient Magnetic Field in Greenland Rocks Reveals New Insights
Scientists uncover 3.7-billion-year-old magnetic field signals in Greenland, challenging previous understanding of Earth's early geophysical conditions.
- New research in Greenland has identified the earliest known evidence of Earth's magnetic field, dating back 3.7 billion years.
- The findings suggest that Earth's magnetic field was established much earlier than previously thought, providing crucial protection against solar radiation.
- This discovery was made possible by analyzing magnetite in ancient rocks, which preserved the magnetic signals.
- The intensity of the magnetic field at that time was measured at 15 microteslas, comparable to today's average field strength.
- The existence of an early magnetic field could have significantly influenced the development and evolution of life on Earth.