If the Earth didn't have a magnetic field around it, you probably wouldn't be reading this right now. Among other things, magnetic fields shield the Earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays that would bombard the Earth and take away its essential ozone layer. With this in mind, there's still much they don't understand about it and the planet it protects. Fortunately, new research is always coming out that helps people better understand the world around them. For instance, scientists are finally able to explain why a portion of the magnetic field drifts westward - a phenomenon that's been recorded for more than 300 years now, according to Space.com. What is Known About Earth's Magnetic Field For one, it's known how its properties are similar to the attractive forces produced by strong magnets, and they have an understanding of why the magnetic field exists. According to COSMOS, the flow of liquid iron at the Earth's hot core is enough to create electric currents that produce magnetic fields. The end result is a massive magnetic field that surrounds the entire planet. While it's a known fact that the magnetic field changes, scientists haven't had a clear understanding as to why fast-moving magnetic patches exist near the planet's equator, states Space.com. Also unknown is why they drift about 10 miles every year. Findings Answers in the Past To finally learn why these shifts occur, Julien Aubert of France's Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 led a team of researchers who reviewed more than 400 years of data. Using this information, the researchers were able to arrive at an explanation for the changes in the planet's magnetic field. "People have tried various configurations regarding the state of the core-mantle alignment," said Aubert, as quoted by the news source. "The ingredients were here, but they were never put in the right configuration, in particular for reproducing the geomagnetic westward drift." Based on their findings, the researchers believe the westward drifts are the result of the Earth's cooling core. The core is slowly going from a liquid state to a solid one, but the process is taking place in an uneven fashion. This results in direct changes to the magnetic field along the equator in the Western Hemisphere. Discover More With Apex Magnets There's a lot we're still learning. Check out this article for two things you may not know! Want to stay up-to-date on the latest magnetic discoveries? Sign up for our newsletter to get these stories and more sent straight to your inbox each month.