The gauss, abbreviated as G, is the cgs unit of magnetic induction, named after the mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss. One gauss is defined as one maxwell per square centimeter.
For many years prior to 1932 the term gauss was used to designate that unit of magnetic field intensity which is now known as the oersted. This change in terminology was introduced to distinguish between magnetic induction and magnetic intensity as physical magnitudes.
The SI unit of magnetic induction is the tesla. One gauss is equal to 10-4 tesla.