<p>The electromagnetic force and related field is a strong force at very small distances (governs the way the proton and electron are held to an atom) but is relatively weak over large distances.  I don't see how that small force could act on processes involved in the convection of the mantle.  If memory serves, the iron in magmas preserves the force of the electromagnetic field on earth at the time the magma cools to form rock. It leaves its imprint but has no affect on the process or origin of magmatism much less the convection that drives plate tectonics </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-04T02:54:34.053Z
2015-07-04T02:54:34.053Z
see you
<p>The forces of a magnetic field on materials that are not ferromagnetic and not electric conductors are negligible compared to pressure, tension, and buoyancy. It is likely safe to ignore them for the upper mantle.</p>

<p>However, the lower mantle is a semiconductor with a significant thermal gradient, which induces electrical gradient via thermoelectricity. This <a href="https://m.scirp.org/papers/78851" rel="nofollow noreferrer">paper</a> suggests this effect can be strong enough to actually be a source of geomagnetism. If true, it is also strong enough to interact with geomagnetic field to produce mechanical forces, which would manifest as a depth-oriented gradient of East-west drag.</p>

<p>Another paper claims both geomagnetism and plate tectonics have the same cause: <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/0709.1303" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Global coupling at 660 km is proposed to explain plate tectonics and the generation of the earth's magnetic field</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-06-07T13:26:10.880Z
The scirp paper link doesn't take you to the paper, just the site. What is the title, authors DOI of that?
not2qubit
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-15T03:41:29.800Z
The paper is:
Thermoelectric Currents of Earth’s Core Generate the Earth’s Magnetic Field
Arkadiy Nikolaevich Dmitriev
Tyumen Industrial University, Tyumen, Russia.
DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2017.88059
Andris Birkmanis
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-15T14:48:51.870Z
Great! Thanks, the link is [here](https://file.scirp.org/pdf/IJG_2017083015212459.pdf)
not2qubit
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-05T17:49:36.887Z
2020-01-05T18:23:26.887Z
2020-01-05T18:23:26.887Z
Andris Birkmanis
<p>Paleomagnetism can be measured as the magnetic field at the time of rock forming is preserved in some minerals.</p>

<p>Could the paleomagnetism and the present magnetic field somehow influence the movements of tectonic plates? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-10T23:00:34.430Z
I doubt it, but [the reverse has been *considered*](http://phys.org/news/2011-10-plate-tectonics-reversals-earth-magnetic.html).
HDE 226868
<plate-tectonics><paleomagnetism>
Could the magnetic field influence tectonic forces
Mart
# Could the magnetic field influence tectonic forces

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-10)

Paleomagnetism can be measured as the magnetic field at the time of rock forming is preserved in some minerals.

Could the paleomagnetism and the present magnetic field somehow influence the movements of tectonic plates?

**Tags:** plate-tectonics, paleomagnetism

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I doubt it, but [the reverse has been *considered*](http://phys.org/news/2011-10-plate-tectonics-reversals-earth-magnetic.html).  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-07-04. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The electromagnetic force and related field is a strong force at very small distances (governs the way the proton and electron are held to an atom) but is relatively weak over large distances. I don't see how that small force could act on processes involved in the convection of the mantle. If memory serves, the iron in magmas preserves the force of the electromagnetic field on earth at the time the magma cools to form rock. It leaves its imprint but has no affect on the process or origin of magmatism much less the convection that drives plate tectonics


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### Answer by username_3 on 2020-01-05. Score: 2

The forces of a magnetic field on materials that are not ferromagnetic and not electric conductors are negligible compared to pressure, tension, and buoyancy. It is likely safe to ignore them for the upper mantle.

However, the lower mantle is a semiconductor with a significant thermal gradient, which induces electrical gradient via thermoelectricity. This [paper](https://m.scirp.org/papers/78851) suggests this effect can be strong enough to actually be a source of geomagnetism. If true, it is also strong enough to interact with geomagnetic field to produce mechanical forces, which would manifest as a depth-oriented gradient of East-west drag.

Another paper claims both geomagnetism and plate tectonics have the same cause: [Global coupling at 660 km is proposed to explain plate tectonics and the generation of the earth's magnetic field](https://arxiv.org/abs/0709.1303).

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: The scirp paper link doesn't take you to the paper, just the site. What is the title, authors DOI of that?  
> **username_3**: The paper is: Thermoelectric Currents of Earth’s Core Generate the Earth’s Magnetic Field Arkadiy Nikolaevich Dmitriev Tyumen Industrial University, Tyumen, Russia. DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2017.88059  
> **username_4**: Great! Thanks, the link is [here](https://file.scirp.org/pdf/IJG_2017083015212459.pdf)  

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