what will happen if the earth losses its magnetic field?

Answer 1

As someone already mentioned, the Earth's magnetic field changes quite regularly. It's reversed polarity many, many times, over the last few billion years, and during those reversals it would have decreased to virtually zero.

The field has been decreasing for quite some time now, so it looks like we're moving towards another reversal - although it's probably still tens of thousands of years away still, so don't worry :-)

The main thing is that life on Earth HASN'T been affected by changes in the magnetic field. Yes, it does play a part in shielding us from cosmic radiation, but it's not the only thing doing that, and although cancer rates might go up a couple of percent it wouldn't really affect us much.

Some species that use magnetism to navigate when migrating would probably be badly affected (some birds, whales etc.) but they'd recover and adapt to the new field after a few years.

Looking at the fossil record, there's no correlation between mass extinctions and reversals of the field, so we can be pretty sure that life on Earth carries on pretty much as normal.

Oh, and there won't be any huge volcanoes, rivers of lava, or anything like that either - that's too much Hollywood there :-)

Answer 2

It is unlikely we would all fall off as we remain fixd on the Earth by gravity - something not at all related to magnetism. The exact nature and origin of the Earth's magnetic field is unknown - many theories exist suggesting it originates from the Earth having a molten core of iron. The magnetic field in question is less than 1 gauss at the surface hence it has very little direct effect on our everyday lives, it's main sphere of influence is with atmospheric effects and also non-terrestrial events such as the aurora borealis. It is worth noting that the field varies significantly over time and location. If the Earth did lose it's magnetic field the more important question would be why.

Answer 3

The magnetic field is not gravity. No one will fall off. The earth will not lose its magnetic field. It will become less dense and magnetic current will cease temporarily. As it becomes less dense, more radiation will be allowed to pass through it to the surface. It has happened in the past and life did not end. Your PC and other low voltage devices may stop working and radio transmissions may stop working or become unintelligible. You will want to spend very little time outside and when you do go out, you will need to be covered and use plenty of sunscreen.

The earth emits free electrons as a result of the static electricity generated from rubbing against space and from the fission that occurs towards its core. Normally, the electrons are compressed more by the magnetic current that runs through the earth from pole to pole. When the current ceases, the electron field expands and more of them escape into space, but most of them are still attracted to the earth by gravity and re-enter the earth through a varying number of places instead of just the North and South Poles. So the magnetic field becomes scattered with many poles instead of just two. Eventually, as the poles wander around the surface, they will be forced once more into two poles as differences in potential are established. The poles may be reversed but everything will once again operated the same.

Answer 4

We would not fall off the earth.

Gravity and magnetics are totally separate.

All that would happen is we would lose North and South poles.

All creatures that use the magnet poles for navigation would got horribly lost.

An interesting point though, would be that as the magnetic field collapsed it could generate the magnetic field changes that could induce current in electrical systems and blow them all out.

Answer 5

Basically life would end as we know it. Earth's magnetic field shields us from much of the harmfull radiation from the Sun's solar wind, directing it towards the poles and around the planet. Also birds and some animals use the field in migration, so they wouldn't know where to go during seasonal changes. But that would require the cooling and solidifying of the Earth's molten iron core....so you shouldn't have to worry about it too much. Also the magnetic field is independent of Earth's gravity which is a function of its' mass. We wouldn't float away, as some have responded.

Answer 6

1) ignore all answers by halfwits who confuse the Earth's magnetic field with it's gravity field!

2) The magnetic field "reverses" every so often in geological time. It's diminishing in strength right now, and we are over-due a full field reversal. This may possibly happen on a timescale of hundred - thousand years.

3) when the field reverses, there will be a short period (?tens of years) with no magnetic field, or maybe a rapidly fluctuating one. Then the field will return to normal, albeit with the North and South magnetic poles reversed. During the time of no magnetic field, the Earth will be more vulnerable to incoming solar radiation and solar particle storms.

4) What will definitely NOT happen when the field reverses:
Huge volcanic eruptions, mass extinctions, loss of gravity, etc, etc.

5) What will DEFINITELY happen: spectacular "aurorae". Increases in skin cancer due to increased solar radiation. Severe damage to electrical systems and telecommunications, in fact anything electrical pretty much. Satellites destroyed. Compasses useless for navigation. Disruption to migratory activities of birds, fish etc.

The downside is with things electrical being rendered next to useless, life as we know it will change drastically - possibly even triggering the collapse of civilization.

The upside is that for the rest of life on the planet, things will carry on pretty much as normal. And should human civilization re-establish itself, what with all the satellites gone and no mobile phones in use, then the dreadful phenomenon of "txt"-speak will be no more!

Answer 7

The earth's magnetic field changes every so many thousands of years... watched a programme recently, where they were discussing this very thing.

Apparently... this takes many years to happen... but the North becomes South, and the South becomes North... magnetically... and we, are in the very middle of this event happening, in this time of Aquarius!

They were supposed experts in this field and it was on a university programme in the early hours... I can't recall the name of the programme... it was about two to three weeks ago.

It was a fascinating discussion though and they did explain, that whilst this happens, we seem to have upheaval on the surface in all areas of the world, due to the inner core movement as they swap places, they showed computer graphics where the molten lava shifts... it had a name, lost to me right now.

Maybe someone else in here was watching it as well and can go further, in the detail?

Answer 8

Simple, rent the movie "The Core" Starring: Hilary Swank, Aaron Eckhart, Bruce Greenwood, Stanley Tucci, Tcheky Karyo and your question will be answered.

Here is a brief description;

For reasons unknown, the earth's inner core has stopped rotating, causing the planet's electromagnetic field to rapidly deteriorate. Instantly, life around the globe begins to change dramatically. In Boston, 32 people with pacemakers, all within a 10-block radius, suddenly drop dead. In San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge collapses, sending hundreds of people plunging to their deaths. In London's Trafalgar Square, flocks of pigeons lose their ability to navigate, flying into panicked crowds. And in Rome, as thousands of tourists watch helplessly, an electrical superstorm reduces the ancient Colosseum to rubble.

Answer 9

There would be no way to protect the earth from all the harmful radiation and solar winds from the sun.

We would be like Mars, which lost its magnetic field long ago. Nothing would survive basically.

Answer 10

Fridge magnet manufacturers would panic and start the fridge magnet riots. This might not sound like much, but the very civilasation we depend upon would be in very severe peril. After all, civilisation only exists because we organise our days based on notes we place on our fridges with fridge magnets. No magnetism = no fridge magnets = no organisation and the world would end up in complete chaos!