The magnetic poles are like the two major portals on this planet. Originally shared by Brian Koberlein Magnetic Reversal The magnetic field of the Earth is often portrayed as a large magnet that runs through the center of the Earth, with the magnetic poles located basically at the north and south poles of the Earth, but this is only a rough approximation. Earth’s magnetic field is generated in its core. The core of the Earth has a solid central region surrounded by a fluid outer region. This outer region undergoes convection, and its motion generates the magnetic field through what is known as a dynamo effect. This is similar to the way the Sun’s magnetic field is generated. For this reason, the Earth’s magnetic field (like the Sun’s) is not static. Over the past several centuries, for example, we have seen the magnetic field gradually change, and can even observe how the location of the north and south poles shifts over time. We know that the Earth’s magnetic field has undergone rever...