<p><sub> Disclaimer: This answer is inspired by <em>Magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune: Metallic fluid hydrogen</em> by <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/950/4/042046" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Nellis</a> [2017], who explains the center offset of the ice-giants' magnetic fields by contrasting them with Earth's magnetic field. </sub></p>
<h2>Earth's axisymmetric magnetic field</h2>
<p>The most researched magnetic field in our Solar System is, of course, Earth. <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/950/4/042046" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Nellis</a> 2017 explains how coupling between the rotational motion and convective dynamo motions in the Earth's outer core cause the magnetic axis to drive towards alignment to the spin axis:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Because rotational motion (RM) of Earth is strongly coupled into
convective dynamo (CD) motions of its fluid-Fe outer core, planetary
RM stabilizes convective motions that generate a dipolar magnetic
field. If a convective fluctuation occurs which tends to destabilize a
given dipolar axis, then strong RM-CD coupling either drives
convective motions that essentially restore the initial orientation or
CD fluctuations that drive the initial magnetic axes out of
orientational equilibrium are so strong that RM-CD coupling eventually
drives the dipolar axis into an alignment anti-parallel to its initial
one.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Uranus/Neptune non-axisymmetric magnetic fields</h2>
<p>Voyager 2 measured both gravitational moments as well as the magnetic fields of both Uranus and Neptune.  These measurements helped develop models of planetary composition as well as models of magnetic field generators. For Uranus/Neptune, the fields are generated near the surface at radii as large as <span class="math-container">$\approx0.9R_U/R_N$</span>, while the Earth's magnetic field is generated much deeper at <span class="math-container">$\approx0.5R_E$</span>.</p>
<p>The magnetic generation near the surface, as well as the H-HE envelope (again according to Nellis) means that:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>local convective dynamo motions of fluids that produce the magnetic
fields are essentially decoupled from global rotational motions [...].
The dynamos of U/N would then be relatively free to wander as local
convective fluctuations dictate.  Thus, tilt angles and center-offsets
of their fields would vary slowly over the age of the Solar System.</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Summary</h2>
<p>The Earth's composition and convective liquid outer-core currents cause a coupling between the rotational motion of the Earth and the convective dynamo motion.  This drives the magnetic axis to align with the spin axis, which passes through the center-of-mass.  No similar strong coupling exists for Neptune and Uranus, which means the magnetic axis on each of these planets is free to wander both in orientation and offset from the spin axis and center of mass due to local surface convection currents.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-20T22:51:04.267Z
The Earth's magnetic dipole axis is certainly off-center also, just not by as much, *"only" 500 km!* See answers to [Why would Space Cube 1.0 have so many On-Orbit Upsets over South America?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/20421/12102)
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-23T02:20:18.897Z
I've just asked in Earth Science SE: [Plain-language summary of why Uranus and Neptune are different than Earth in having large offsets of their dipole field?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/q/21297/6031) Feel free to edit/improve the question or post an answer.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-23T04:45:40.460Z
@uhoh I am sort of in limbo on answering this in Earth Science or trying to add to my existing answer here.
Connor Garcia
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-23T04:52:57.680Z
No need to do anything here, I just wanted to check if my new question looks okay to you, if there's anything there that seems off or if you're uncomfortable being quoted like that you are invited to edit it or let me know.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-23T05:01:47.843Z
@uhoh I think your new question looks great.  I am perfectly comfortable being quoted, and I think you captured a gap in my answer well.  I have been thinking about a "plain words" edit since I posted this, so we are on the same lines.
Connor Garcia
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-25T03:43:08.010Z
@uhoh Thanks for the info.  I think I am going to concentrate here on Astronomy SE before I branch out.
Connor Garcia
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-25T09:48:20.913Z
That's of course the wisest course.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-20T18:51:53.170Z
2021-05-20T18:51:53.170Z
Connor Garcia
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ZTpLp.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZTpLp.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>It(Uranus) rotates on its side, tilted almost 98 degrees from the plane of its
orbit around the sun. The axis of its magnetic field is tilted too, at
a 59-degree angle from the rotational axis. <strong>The magnetic field is also
off-center, with the field lines emerging about a third of the way
toward the south pole.</strong> (<a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2138448-uranuss-crooked-messy-magnetic-field-might-open-and-shut-daily/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a>)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Neptune's magnetic field is tilted 47 from the planet's rotation axis
and is offset at least 0.55 radii, about 8,500 mi (13,500 km) from the
physical center.</strong> The dynamo electric currents produced within the
planet, therefore, must be relatively closer to the surface than for
Earth, Jupiter, or Saturn. Because of its unusual orientation, and the
tilt of the planet's rotation axis, Neptune's magnetic field goes
through dramatic changes as the planet rotates in the solar wind. (<a href="https://www.infoplease.com/math-science/space/solar-system/the-magnetic-field-of-neptune" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a>)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So, it is well established that the magnetic axis of Uranus and Neptune is off-center and due to this, the planets faces the following consequences:</p>
<ol>
<li>the magnetosphere  is irregular</li>
<li>the strength of magnetic field varies, almost opening and closing periodically as the magnetic field lines disconnect and reconnect</li>
<li>the orientation of magnetic field changes constantly.</li>
</ol>
<p>But, why is the magnetic axis off-center in the first place? I found no source answering that. Is it due to alignment/orbit/internal heating mechanism of the planets?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-20T12:36:24.217Z
My understanding is that it is because the electrically conductive fluid layer that is the seat of the dynamo is much closer to the surface than it is in say Jupiter, Saturn or either the Earth. But I will be interesting to hear about the latest research...
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-20T15:11:23.707Z
rotational axis and magnetic axis are generally not co-aligened (yet usually share a common centre much better than for these two ice giants). There's an article in Nature by Jonathan Aurnou (2004): https://www.nature.com/articles/428134a
planetmaker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-20T21:58:21.923Z
Note that those two images are not complete pictures of the Uranian and Neptunian magnetic fields. The planets host strong quadrupola magnetic components, all of which, in those pictures of the field lines, are assigned to the strength of one dipole.
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
<magnetic-field><neptune><uranus>
Why is the magnetic axis of Uranus and Neptune off center?
Nilay Ghosh
# Why is the magnetic axis of Uranus and Neptune off center?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-20)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ZTpLp.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ZTpLp.jpg)

> It(Uranus) rotates on its side, tilted almost 98 degrees from the plane of its
> orbit around the sun. The axis of its magnetic field is tilted too, at
> a 59-degree angle from the rotational axis. **The magnetic field is also
> off-center, with the field lines emerging about a third of the way
> toward the south pole.** ([source](https://www.newscientist.com/article/2138448-uranuss-crooked-messy-magnetic-field-might-open-and-shut-daily/))

> **Neptune's magnetic field is tilted 47 from the planet's rotation axis
> and is offset at least 0.55 radii, about 8,500 mi (13,500 km) from the
> physical center.** The dynamo electric currents produced within the
> planet, therefore, must be relatively closer to the surface than for
> Earth, Jupiter, or Saturn. Because of its unusual orientation, and the
> tilt of the planet's rotation axis, Neptune's magnetic field goes
> through dramatic changes as the planet rotates in the solar wind. ([source](https://www.infoplease.com/math-science/space/solar-system/the-magnetic-field-of-neptune))

So, it is well established that the magnetic axis of Uranus and Neptune is off-center and due to this, the planets faces the following consequences:

1. the magnetosphere is irregular
2. the strength of magnetic field varies, almost opening and closing periodically as the magnetic field lines disconnect and reconnect
3. the orientation of magnetic field changes constantly.

But, why is the magnetic axis off-center in the first place? I found no source answering that. Is it due to alignment/orbit/internal heating mechanism of the planets?

**Tags:** magnetic-field, neptune, uranus
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: My understanding is that it is because the electrically conductive fluid layer that is the seat of the dynamo is much closer to the surface than it is in say Jupiter, Saturn or either the Earth. But I will be interesting to hear about the latest research...  
> **username_2**: rotational axis and magnetic axis are generally not co-aligened (yet usually share a common centre much better than for these two ice giants). There's an article in Nature by Jonathan Aurnou (2004): https://www.nature.com/articles/428134a  
> **username_3**: Note that those two images are not complete pictures of the Uranian and Neptunian magnetic fields. The planets host strong quadrupola magnetic components, all of which, in those pictures of the field lines, are assigned to the strength of one dipole.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2021-05-20. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Disclaimer: This answer is inspired by *Magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune: Metallic fluid hydrogen* by [Nellis](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/950/4/042046) [2017], who explains the center offset of the ice-giants' magnetic fields by contrasting them with Earth's magnetic field.

## Earth's axisymmetric magnetic field

The most researched magnetic field in our Solar System is, of course, Earth. [Nellis](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/950/4/042046) 2017 explains how coupling between the rotational motion and convective dynamo motions in the Earth's outer core cause the magnetic axis to drive towards alignment to the spin axis:

> Because rotational motion (RM) of Earth is strongly coupled into
> convective dynamo (CD) motions of its fluid-Fe outer core, planetary
> RM stabilizes convective motions that generate a dipolar magnetic
> field. If a convective fluctuation occurs which tends to destabilize a
> given dipolar axis, then strong RM-CD coupling either drives
> convective motions that essentially restore the initial orientation or
> CD fluctuations that drive the initial magnetic axes out of
> orientational equilibrium are so strong that RM-CD coupling eventually
> drives the dipolar axis into an alignment anti-parallel to its initial
> one.

## Uranus/Neptune non-axisymmetric magnetic fields

Voyager 2 measured both gravitational moments as well as the magnetic fields of both Uranus and Neptune. These measurements helped develop models of planetary composition as well as models of magnetic field generators. For Uranus/Neptune, the fields are generated near the surface at radii as large as $\approx0.9R\_U/R\_N$, while the Earth's magnetic field is generated much deeper at $\approx0.5R\_E$.

The magnetic generation near the surface, as well as the H-HE envelope (again according to Nellis) means that:

> local convective dynamo motions of fluids that produce the magnetic
> fields are essentially decoupled from global rotational motions [...].
> The dynamos of U/N would then be relatively free to wander as local
> convective fluctuations dictate. Thus, tilt angles and center-offsets
> of their fields would vary slowly over the age of the Solar System.

## Summary

The Earth's composition and convective liquid outer-core currents cause a coupling between the rotational motion of the Earth and the convective dynamo motion. This drives the magnetic axis to align with the spin axis, which passes through the center-of-mass. No similar strong coupling exists for Neptune and Uranus, which means the magnetic axis on each of these planets is free to wander both in orientation and offset from the spin axis and center of mass due to local surface convection currents.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: The Earth's magnetic dipole axis is certainly off-center also, just not by as much, *"only" 500 km!* See answers to [Why would Space Cube 1.0 have so many On-Orbit Upsets over South America?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/20421/12102)  
> **username_5**: I've just asked in Earth Science SE: [Plain-language summary of why Uranus and Neptune are different than Earth in having large offsets of their dipole field?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/q/21297/6031) Feel free to edit/improve the question or post an answer.  
> **username_4**: @uhoh I am sort of in limbo on answering this in Earth Science or trying to add to my existing answer here.  
> **username_5**: No need to do anything here, I just wanted to check if my new question looks okay to you, if there's anything there that seems off or if you're uncomfortable being quoted like that you are invited to edit it or let me know.  
> **username_4**: @uhoh I think your new question looks great.  I am perfectly comfortable being quoted, and I think you captured a gap in my answer well.  I have been thinking about a "plain words" edit since I posted this, so we are on the same lines.  
> **username_4**: @uhoh Thanks for the info.  I think I am going to concentrate here on Astronomy SE before I branch out.  
> **username_5**: That's of course the wisest course.  

---

