Does anyone else know about it's appartent shutting down?
The last time it's happened, the north pole was in the south and the south pole in the north.
2006-07-28 19:13:57 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The Earth's magnetic field undergoes periodic reversals, the last one being about 780,000 years ago. The actual reversal takes several thousand years, during which time the magnetic field becomes chaotic. The field never shuts down, but it splits up into multiple small fields, instead of concentrating in one big field with a well-defined north and south pole.
2006-07-28 20:31:14 · answer #1 · answered by injanier 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The earth's magnetic field undergoes occasional reversals and can weaken during a reversal. We are believed to be in one now that may occur over the next 4,000 years or so. The earth does not have to reverse rotation to flip the magnetic field. The magnetic north is also migrating slightly, and is in a different place today than it was a few hundred years ago.
2006-07-29 03:42:53 · answer #2 · answered by Steve W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The phenomenon you are referring to is known as 'pole shift' and, as you mentioned, it is believed to have happened in the past
From Wikipedia: "hypothesis based on geologic evidence that the physical north and south poles of Earth have not always been at their present-day locations; in other words, the axis of rotation had been "shifted". Pole shift theory is almost always discussed in the context of Earth, but other solar system bodies may have experienced axial reorientation during their existences."
This concept is also popular among the conspiracy theory/paranormal crowd, and has been mentioned on shows and websites, including the Coast to Coast AM radio show.
Extensive information is available at the following site: http://www.greatdreams.com/poleshift.htm
2006-07-29 02:20:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is not shutting down .
it is a fact of human belief.
the north n south poles were named by man in opp. way,.......for simplicity of compass thats all.
n the earths mag. field can interchange its polarity only in one condition..............
IF EARTH ROTATES IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
2006-07-29 02:54:41 · answer #4 · answered by neonym 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it's not shutting down.
2006-07-29 02:17:19 · answer #5 · answered by Chase 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋