what would happen if the earths magnetic forces switched or we lost it??

Answer 1

If we lost it, all life on Earth would die. That's all that shields us from the fierce electromagnetic storm from our sun

Answer 2

The magnetic poles of the earth have switched in the past. North became south and vice versa. Nobody actually knows what would happen if the switch occurred in the near future. But I suspect we would all be very confused for a while. Obviously all the compasses would be 180 degrees off. Computer, satellites and GPS systems might go haywire until someone could reprogram them. Scientists think some insects, birds and fish use the magnetic field during migration and this would become an excellent opportunity to discover exactly which ones as they would be the animals wandering through inhospitable climates and eventually dying. Vegetation may use the field in ways that no person has yet thought of. This would also be the ultimate of adaption experiments. Which species and how quickly could they adapt. I worry about the human population most. Our bodies as well as the bodies of the rest of the animal kingdom have evolved to fit into the natural world perfectly. Although the switch may not effect us at all, we may discover that many of our internal functions are relying on the status quo. Digestion or conception may become disrupted. We never thought of these things because in out minds we could not imagine any other way nor could we have long term experiments without considerable cost and machinery. All that said and done, aside from compass readings and electronics some of us might not even notice. We just don't know. As far as losing the magnetic field altogether, I don't think we need to worry about that in OUR lifetime. But that field is the only thing keeping most of the solar particles from bombarding the earth. So, if the field just went away tomorrow, it would be very bad.

Answer 3

HI! Hey, there is a theory about this. Scientist believe that some time ago, the Earth's rotation was reverse to what we know now. North was South, East was West. The Earth IS slowing down on it's axis. It is like taking a rubber band and hang a cup on it, twist the rubber band and the cup will twirl in one direction, but then the rubber band twists to the other side, slows down, stops for a split second, then proceeds to twist in the other direction. That is about what scientist believe is happening to the earth. Pottery has magnetic fields inside the clay. when pottery is made, the magnetic field is "frozen" in the state it was at the time it was cured. Now they have some pottery that is ancient, and through the magic of science, they find that the magnetic field at the time of production, is different than the magnetic field of today. So, the Earth,s magnetic field is changing, and when that happens, all is lost. But, belief has it that the Earth with stop for a short time (about a thousand years) and then begin to spin on it's axis again, but in the other direction. It is all fascinating, and I hope the point is clear for I didn't want to give the whole story. But you can read about it at www.nasa.gov

Answer 4

It is true that the polarity of the Earth's polar regions have changed (reversed) several times over the millennia. A slow process but one that IS occurring at the present day. The process is called 'Magnetic Flip' and over a period of several thousand years, the polarity of the planet changes at the poles. Scientists are monitoring this event as it is occurring, and can detect the changes in the magnetic polarity of magma masses below the Earth's crust and mantle. We shall not see the effects of this in our life-times, but it is happening - slowly.
This phenomenon may account for the enigmas of the Bermuda Triangle and other similar sites on the Earth's surface.
How will it affect us? The main effects that most people would become aware of relate to our life-style. In this age of advancing technology, there is a potential that all things electrical and electronic will in some way be affected, as all these things depend on magnetic polarity to operate. However, the human race has a powerful ability to adapt and so to survive so it will not be the end of the world - only the world as we know it.

Answer 5

HI Geography graduate here, it happens every 25,000 years or so. Losing the Magnetism of Earth altogether is implausible (but not during the switch, which would happen very fast) because the magnetism is created my molten lead in the middle of the earth. As to the effects of magnetism polarity reversal, who knows? We all fall down? doubtful
Technology stops? possibly some
Compasses need to be read in reverse?
Birds fly North for winter?
The Auraura Borealis takes place South instead of North?

Watch a film called 'the Core' in which some scientists set to solve that very problem. I enjoyed it. They addressed the problem of Solar radiation burning the Earth because of the lack of protective magnetic earth wrapping...could have happened!

Answer 6

It happens regularly, we're due a magnetic pole switch any time now. Nobody's sure what will happen but major computer systems are shielded from electromagnetic pulses so should be ok.
If we lost the magnetic core altogether, we would have no defense against the lethal radioactive wavelengths from space and we'd all have to go live in coalmines.
The magnetosphere keeps them off us at the moment, without it we'd fry.

Answer 7

It's thought that certain organisms, insects, fish, and other animals use the magnetic field to orient themselves and navigate. No doubt a major change in the poles would confuse them.

Aside from the ecological impacts, interesting upper atmospheric weather phenomena may occure, such as auroras where they are not usually seen....it wouldn't be the end of the world however.

Answer 8

bad shiiit would happen. No defence against high energy radiation from space. Not good. We like big magnet.

Answer 9

It would be a catastrophe all the magnets would fall off my fridge door!!

Answer 10

I understood this process already happened a few times in history and geologists can proof it .... but is nice, that it needs thousands of years .... so don't worry for you and me.