+800 km
At 800 km altitude, Earth’s magnetic shield meets with the charged particles emitted by the Sun. This area is called the Van Allen radiation belt and stretches far out into space.
800 km
Radiation Belt
& Polar Lights
SWARM in orbit
+450/550 km
ESA’s SWARM mission consists of three identical satellites, orbiting in different altitudes above our planet. Their measurements will help understand recent changes and anomalies of Earth’s magnetic field, and its effect on our climate and daily life.
Outer Space
+100 km
The boundary between our atmosphere and Outer Space is set by definition and begins at 100 km altitude above the Earth. Even in vacuum, Earth’s magnetic force remains unchanged.
#swarmcampaign
Hi.
Our planet is a huge magnet. No question that this has an effect on everything around us: weather, climate, geology, navigation. Without a magnetic field, life on Earth wouldn’t even exist because of the Sun’s violent solar wind.
But Earth’s magnetic field weakens, and the magnetic poles shift. How will that change our environment and our daily lives?
In order to find out, the European Space Agency will launch a satellite triplet into space. They will deliver the information we need to understand our own Earth. Join in while a great project unfolds and share the spirit of a stunning space journey!
Upper
Earth Mantle
-40 km
The outermost mantle of the Earth is solid, but very thin – just about 40 km in diameter. Below 40 km begins Earth’s crust, making 2/3 of Earth’s mass. The wold’s deepest borehole is just about 12 km deep.
Transition Zone
-410 km
Between 410 and 660 km depth, the viscous, hot chemistry of the Earth’s crust changes due to high pressure. The crust consists of rock, but temperatures up to 3.000°C make it become flexible, almost creamy like a plastic modelling mass.
Did you know that a magnet stores its strength forever, if it is not exposed to extreme adverse factors like heat and electric currents?
Lower
Earth Mantle
-660 km
The lower Earth mantle below 660 Km is denser and hotter than the upper mantle. In the course of Millions of years, material from the lower mantle is rising upwards to the upper layer and fuels the motion of the crust, known as the continental drift.
Outer
Earth Core
-2.898 km
At 2.898 km depth, the composition of Earth’s interior suddenly changes. A molten core consisting of nickel and iron scrubs against the doughy crust. This is the dynamo effect, producing Earth’s strong and permanent magnetic field. Earth’s magnetism is literally produced here.
Did you know that our neighbouring planets and moons have magnetic fields, too – with the exception of Venus? Mars and the Moon have very small, local magnetic fields.
Inner
Earth Core
-5.150 km
At 5.150 km depth, extreme pressure (3 Mio bar) makes the liquid ferrous core becoming solid – a strange and weird condition. Temperatures exceed 5.000°C.
Did you know that Earth’s magnetic field is varying significantly? From about 0.3 Gauss in South Africa, up to 0.6 Gauss at the Poles. And it has been strongly weakening over the past century.
-6370 km
The centre of our planet is at 6370 kilometres depth in average. Temperatures are estimated around 6.500°C, while the force of gravity drops to absolute zero.
Inner
Earth Core
Did you know that Earth’s magnetic polarization has swapped in history? In the past 71 Million years, it has reversed 171 times. However, this process takes Thousands of years to happen.
Outer
Earth Core
Did you know that The magnetic South Pole of the Earth lies far off the Antarctic Ice Shelf, while the geographic South Pole lies in its centre – a distance of 2.000 kilometres in total?
Lower
Earth Mantle
Did you know that hammer sharks are believed to sense the magnetic charge of other animals and use that ability to find their prey? Other animals like carrier pigeons have an inner compass that guides them to their destination.
Transition Zone
Upper
Earth Mantle
Earth Crust
Welcome back.
Welcome at the opposite side of the globe! Recent findings have shown that the friction of ocean currents have a dynamo effect as well – however only 0,002% of the magnetism coming from Earth’s interior.
Outer Space
SWARM’s Operating Space
+450/550 km
All three Swarm satellites have been launched on 22 November 2013 with a Rockot launch vehicle from Plesetsk in Northern Russia and are controlled from Darmstadt in Germany.