Earth's Magnetic Field: Does it Rotate?

[Buckethead]

Does the Earth's magnetic field rotate with the Earth? I am figuring it's stationary as a magnet that rotates through it's pole to pole axis does not exhibit a rotating magnetic field so why should the Earth.

 

[DrClaude]

The Earth's magnetic field is not aligned with its rotation axis. The magnetic North and South poles are located at certain geographical points on the planet, and therefore there is a diurnal rotation of the magnetic field with respect to an outside observer.

 

[Buckethead]

That slipped my mind that they were not aligned (even though I knew that). So are you saying that the magnetic field rotates and if so, do you know how fast it rotates and why?

 

[mfb]

The magnetic poles, and all other significant features of the field move around the rotation axis once per day. I think it is reasonable to say "the magnetic field rotates once per day", even if there is no clear general way to assign an angular velocity to a changing magnetic field.