Kōrero: Magnetic field

Perhaps the most spectacular signs of the earth’s magnetic field in New Zealand are the streaming lights of the aurora australis in the night sky. Less visible phenomena have also been carefully documented in the region – from James Cook’s measurements in 1770 to unusual rocks noted around Nelson in the 1850s, and to magnetic storms monitored at the Eyrewell observatory today.

He kōrero nā Tony Hurst
Te āhua nui: Aurora australis, Bluff Harbour

He korero whakarapopoto

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

What is a magnetic field?

When you place some paper over a magnet, and then sprinkle some iron filings on it, the filings gather in lines. These are the lines of the magnetic field, the regions where the magnet exerts a force. Every magnet has two points, or poles – a north pole and a south pole.

What is the earth’s magnetic field?

Like a giant magnet, the earth has north and south poles. It also has a magnetic field that reaches thousands of kilometres into space. You can find where north is by using a compass, which has a magnetic needle. This responds to the earth’s magnetic field, and points in a north–south direction.

Moving poles

The magnetic field is not fixed. Over time, it moves, and so do the magnetic poles.

Geographic and magnetic poles

The geographic poles are the North Pole (in the Arctic Ocean) and the South Pole (in Antarctica). They are fixed, and in a different place from the magnetic poles, which move. In 2002 the magnetic north pole was north of Canada – 950 kilometres away from the North Pole. So geographic north (shown on a map) and magnetic north (shown by a compass) are slightly different.

Auroras

An aurora is a display of streaming lights in the night sky. This occurs in the upper atmosphere, where electrically charged particles from the sun are guided along the earth's magnetic lines of force. New Zealanders are most likely to see an aurora from the southern South Island.

Magnetic measurements in New Zealand

When the magnetic field changes it affects compasses, so it is important to measure the field regularly. When Lieutenant James Cook visited in 1770, scientists on board the Endeavour made the first measurements comparing geographic north and magnetic north in New Zealand.

In the 1850s, a ship’s captain noticed that the magnetic field near Nelson was unusual. This is now known to be due to highly magnetic rocks. The black sand of the North Island’s west coast is also magnetic. Like the rocks, it can alter the magnetic field.

The magnetic south pole was first located in 1909, in Antarctica. By 2000 it lay in the Southern Ocean.

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārangi:

Tony Hurst, 'Magnetic field', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/magnetic-field (accessed 29 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Tony Hurst, i tāngia i te 12 o Hune 2006