Tag Archives: convection

Did big impacts turn off Mars’ dynamo?

Posted on June 19, 2014 by rburnham

Several giant impact basins on Mars have ages that suggest they formed at about the same time that the planet’s global magnetic field disappeared. Is it coincidence or is there a connection? While not claiming a direct causal connection, geophysicists … Continue reading →

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What turned off the Martian magnetic field?

Posted on February 3, 2012 by rburnham

For roughly the first 500 to 800 million years of its existence, Mars had a magnetic field generated by a natural internal dynamo. This was powered by convection currents in the planet’s molten iron core, which operated vigorously as they … Continue reading →

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