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General Science => General Science => Topic started by: ukmicky on 10/07/2005 20:19:25

Title: What would be the effect of a magnetic pole reversal on Earth?
Post by: ukmicky on 10/07/2005 20:19:25
if tommorow the Earth Magnetic Field was to flip and north became south like it has in the past,
 what would be the effects to life on earth and our technology?.
Title: Re: What would be the effect of a magnetic pole reversal on Earth?
Post by: Tronix on 11/07/2005 21:06:19
well, if south was just north and north was just south, like instant change, maybe nothing. but if it was an event that caused it, and took nanosecounds or months, i would emagine radio would be paticularly screwed up, ligthing might be effected, and most cataclymically, the earth may experience a hole in the electromagnetic shield that protects us from cosmic rays. it all depends on how it happens.

but the "after math" might not be to different, except for ships and navigators that didnt adapt to it. If it were a sudden change, suddenly all ships and airplanes would either do a 180 or scratch their headsa, likely cuasing a shipping jam like noones ever seen. hikers and adventures would become instantly lost (or scratch their heads) resulting in a sudden boom of missings persons cases a month or a few weeks after the event. and i think a few animals have a sort of "internal compass", so some migratory birds might go north for the winter and soth for the summer, though i doubt it, since older brids woudl recognize the scenery. instead they might sit there confused and feed the wolves and coyotes.

well, thats my doomsday senario.

--------------------------------------------
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The BPRD rejected my application becuase their brain-controled by Cthulhu Rip-offs. And im sure "Sparky" is sleeping with them too, kinky little firecracker she is...
Title: Re: What would be the effect of a magnetic pole reversal on Earth?
Post by: Ultima on 12/07/2005 08:13:51
It won’t happen instantly though. We will get lots of micro north and south poles all over the place, for a long period of time. This will cause as Tronix said, lots of holes in the magnetosphere. This in turn will mean an increased risk of skin cancer etc. underneath these new poles. It also means that a compass will point in pretty much near random directions depending on where you are on the Earth. This will happen so slowly though you could just re-calibrate a local compass. Or just use GPS which most people do now in ships etc. Migratory birds and some marine mammals might be well screwed, but I guess they will learn, since they use landmarks too. The magnetic pole wobbles quite frequently anyway and that hasn’t seen to bother too many people yet… It's possible there might even be a period of time with no magnetic activity within the Earth... we would have a bit of a problem then!

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/29dec_magneticfield.htm


wOw the world spins?
Title: Re: What would be the effect of a magnetic pole reversal on Earth?
Post by: neilep on 12/07/2005 12:36:14
quote:
Originally posted by Ultima

It won’t happen instantly though.

wOw the world spins?



Phew !!..Thanks Mat...I'm glad it won't happen quickly because I just brought my three year old daughter a compass to play with in her toy car in the garden.She knows that housey is south facing ! Now, I don't have to worry about her navigating her way into a rose bush. Such a relief ![;)]


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Title: Re: What would be the effect of a magnetic pole reversal on Earth?
Post by: Ultima on 12/07/2005 18:58:30
I mean it will last a long time too [:)] so all the poles will be messed up for 100s maybe 1000s of years. But a new pole might pop up in a matter of months whilst the Earth is messed up... would be a confusing time to live through, glad I dun have to worry about it. [:)]

wOw the world spins?
Title: Re: What would be the effect of a magnetic pole reversal on Earth?
Post by: Monox D. I-Fly on 10/04/2018 09:30:17
if tommorow the Earth Magnetic Field was to flip and north became south like it has in the past,
Wait, it has ever happened? When was that?
Title: Re: What would be the effect of a magnetic pole reversal on Earth?
Post by: alancalverd on 10/04/2018 10:14:17
Many times, and probably again soon (that is, "geologically soon").
Title: Re: What would be the effect of a magnetic pole reversal on Earth?
Post by: evan_au on 10/04/2018 12:04:57
Quote from: Monox
Wait, it has ever happened? When was that?
Last time on Earth was about 780,000 years ago. But it happens about every half a million years or so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_reversal

About every 11 years on the Sun.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle

It is thought that there might be some similarities in the dynamo that generates the magnetic field in a rotating, conductive body (except that the center of the Earth is a lot more viscous than the center of the Sun, so it takes a little longer...)