there is some evidence that earth's liquid (molten)core
is part of the reason we have poles--not simple norther most and southern most point, but magnetic poles.

the magnetic poles (or rather the magnetic feild) around the earth--deflects the solar 'wind' (a flow of ionized partictals.) and allows earth to retain an atmosphere..

the main difference between earth and mars is our molten core (magnetic field-->atmospheare-->retained water)

The earth is an imperfect magnet--(there are 'anomalies' and incertain places, magnetic compasses will point south, to an anomaly that has a localized stronger influence than true north--the bahama triangle contains one) and its been known to flip (ie north, now a postive attractor, can change and become a negative attractor)

fasinating stuff-- (keep out the limericks, plutarch, and maybe this will become an active interesting thread.. we do have a few geologist around, who have been lurking and not posting.. maybe we can lure them back.)


my other obsession