Final answer:
Polar wander refers to shifts in the Earth's magnetic poles over geological time due to the geodynamo processes in the Earth’s core, leading to periodic reversals evidenced in the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale. The geographic and magnetic north poles are not identical and shift over time, influencing phenomena like the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Polar wander refers to shifts in the Earth's magnetic poles over geological time. This is a phenomenon that results from geodynamo processes within the Earth's core, which lead to periodic reversals of the planet’s magnetic field. Recording variations in the magnetic field is a way to study these past movements, which scientists have used to develop the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS). Today, we have what is known as 'normal polarity', with the magnetic north pole located near the geographic North Pole. However, every roughly 200,000 years the Earth's magnetic poles reverse with the magnetic north moving to the geographic South Pole, and vice versa.
The exact cause of this magnetic flip is not fully understood, but it is a natural part of Earth's geological processes. The geographic north pole is situated approximately 11.5° away from the current magnetic north pole, a disparity that is frequently changing slightly as the magnetic poles shift. These shifts in the magnetic field have important implications for various phenomena including the magnificent Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis (Northern and Southern Lights, respectively).