Planetary dynamos

Planetary magnetic fields are thought to be generated by magnetohydrodynamic dynamos acting in the convecting, electrically conducting fluid cores of these cosmic bodies. Similar processes are believed to produce a wide variety of other cosmic magnetic fields, including the fields of the Sun and stars. At present, we understand the basic physical processes involved in dynamo magnetic field generation. However, a detailed understanding still eludes us both because of continuing uncertainty about planetary interior structures, properties, and fluid motions, and because of our still primitive capacity for dealing with the complex, nonlinear dynamical processes involved in the fully elaborated dynamo process.