Abstract

Convective Turbulence in Earth and Planetary Cores

Jonathan Aurnou
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Earth's global-scale magnetic field is generated deep inside our planet, within the iron-rich core. Flows of molten metal in the liquid outer core, likely driven by thermo-chemical buoyancy forces, continually regenerate the geomagnetic field, creating a self-sustaining planetary dynamo. Here we will present models of planetary core-style convection, focussing on the basic physics and on the need for liquid metal turbulence in accurate, predictive models of core processes.