Like most planets in our solar system, the Earth has its own magnetic field.
Thanks to itslargely molten iron core, our planet is in fact a bit like a bar magnet.
Now a new study,published in Geophysical Research Letters, has come up with an answer.
Our planetary magnetic field has many advantages.
But, more importantly than that, our geomagnetic field helpsprotect all life on Earth.
This magnetosphere helps to deflect solar radiation and cosmic rays, preventing the destruction of our atmosphere.
This protective magnetic bubble isnt perfect though, and some solar matter and energy can transfer into our magnetosphere.
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But since the turn of the century, this speed has increased to50km a year.
The south magnetic pole is also moving, though at a much slower rate (10-15km a year).
This rapid wandering of the north magnetic pole has caused some problems for scientists and navigators alike.
Although GPS does work, it cansometimes be unreliablein the polar regions.
Will the aurora move?
The northern lights are currently mostly visible from northern Europe, Canada and the northern US.
It showed that rather than following the magnetic poles, the aurora follows the geomagnetic poles instead.
Theres only a small difference between these two types of poles - but its an important one.
Magnetic versus geomagnetic poles.
At the points where that line crosses the Earths surface, we have the geomagnetic poles.
It seems as though the aurora are staying where they are atleast for now.
We already know that the magnetic pole moves.
Both poles have wandered ever since the Earth existed.
In fact, the poles even flip over, with north becoming south and south becoming north.
These magnetic reversals have occurred throughout history, every 450,000 years or so on average.
The last reversal occurred 780,000 years ago meaning wecould be due a reversal soon.
