Dispelling Myths About Geomagnetic Reversal

UniverseToday has an interesting look at geomagnetic reversal, the process in which the Earth's magnetic poles trade places. The article cites known trends and recent studies to debunk doomsday myths and unsubstantiated claims about the process. One such study is attempting to model the earth's core with a 26-ton ball of molten metal. Another recently found evidence that the Earth has a second, weaker magnetic field. "We do know that this magnetic pole flip-flop has occurred many times in the last few million years; the last occurred 780,000 years ago according to ferromagnetic sediment. A few scaremongering articles have said geomagnetic reversal occurs with 'clockwork regularity' — this is simply not true."

Comments

Not really worried.

[Sj0]

The only reason I'd really be worried about the magnetic field flipping is that a changing magnetic field induces a current in a conductor. This means every electronic and electrical device with a closed loop would experience a large current, likely destroying the smaller equipment.

The magnitude is questionable, though. It all depends on how quickly the magnetic field changes, what the field strength of the earth is, and the design of electrical devices affected.

Re:Not really worried.

[sir fer]

What bullshit. The largest influence on the Earths climate is the Sun! You know? that bright thing in the sky that makes it warmer during the day. I don't know what sort of climatologists you speak to but they are idiots if they say the Earths magnetic field is the largest influence on the climate. It prevents the solar wind being a significant influence so it prevents many other influences but it is NOT an influence in and of itself. Incident EM radiation and the Earths magnetic field are 2 distinct and unrelated phenomena. FYI I am a physicist and your post is almost complete nonsense.

It's all hopelessly out of date!

[mdm42]

The fact is that the last serious efforts to measure the Earth's magnetic field in the South Atlantic were terminated in the mid-1980's when the British government pulled the funding for their geomagnetic programme in the South Atlantic. Everything that's been speculated upon since then is postulated on their measurements of rapid ans significant weakening of the magnetic field in the South Atlantic... but nobody's been watching since the mid-80's.

So we don't really know.

Last time anybody bothered to look, there was a local North Pole in the South Atlantic. But that was 25 years ago. And nobody can be bothered to fund looking again.

Never mind that any significant change in the Earth's magnetic field will have serious impact on the Van Allen belts and therefore on minor shit like communication satellites, space stations and the ionosphere...

Re:Lets see it...

[Cyberax]

There's evidence that cannibalism leads to prion diseases (like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuru_(disease) ). So have a nice meal!

Debunking Doomsday Myths?

[jvkjvk]

The article is actually a rant against the 2112 Millenialism of a particular strain of people that have imprinted the mayan great cycle myth at a precognitive level through the influence of McKenna (whether they know it or not). At best, the article says that it's not very probable that a reversal will happen in our lifetime and if it does, "satellites may malfunction and migrating birds may become confused" but that's about it. Without a shred of proof given to that. It could presumably be much worse, so we should probably at least look at it.

though I do concur that the world probably won't end dec 21 2012.

However it also makes reference to a type of potentially catastrophic type event, a 'polar shift', which is really rare. Of course, all that means is that it is eventually inevitable. So there's another ticking clock. Has anyone come up with a clock incorporating all the known doomsday events that are actually going to happen sooner or later? e.g. catastrophic asteroid, polar shift, super solar event, whatnot? Would be interesting.