What effects would a polar flip cause on Earth?

Question

The poles are shifting at an apparently accelerating rate, but what would happen if the poles did swap ends and what would happen during this seemingly long process?

Thank you all for your help. What I am really curious about is what actual effects reversed magnetic poles would have on life on this planet. It is believed that the magnetic poles have revesed many times in the earths history roughly every 400 thousand years, and the last time was over 700 thousand years ago so it is believed it we are well due this switch, It is also believed that the switch of the polar ends llasts for around 10 thousand years during which the magnetic fields go turbulent, where there may be many north and south poles chaotically moving around the globe. My question is what does this effect, like you said it would reduce the reistence to solar energy, and may confuse birds, but what else would it do? I have read somewhere that plants in the southern hemisphere grow larger because of the magnetic field, so what would happen if they switched?

Timbo>

I have never heard that before about the axis flipping over, thats facinating I would love to read that book

Would existence on this planet be hindered by a turbulent magnetic field period?

Answer 1

Contrary to the first answer, the magnetic pole moves, but so does the rotational pole as well. The Earth precesses as it rotates on its axis, like a spinning top, this means that the axis of rotation also rotates in an ever widening circle. Eventually the axis rotation will become so large that the Earth could effectively flip over. There are theories that this has happened many times in the past. I'm not talking about the magnetic poles here, just the rotational axis, although there's also geological evidence that the magnetic poles have flipped many times over the last 4 billion years or so.

Many years ago I remember reading a book that talked about this. Apparently ancient texts exist that talk about a time when the sun rose in the West and set in the East, i.e. the exact opposite of what it does now. They also described what happened when the Earth flipped over. Apparently the sun started to rise as normal, then very quickly reached it's highest point. The Earth shook and the sun was seen to oscillate wildy around for several minutes and then it calmed and the Earth stopped shaking. Then the sun quickly set again, but in the opposite direction, so presumably the Earth had tipped completely over during the process. I can't remember much more than that, but this would indicate that the pole reversal would be quite rapid. I'll see if I still have the book if anyone's interested.

Answer 2

You have to be careful with your words. There are two poles. The axis of rotation and the magnetic poles. Only the magnetic pole is changing.

But the magnetic pole is always changing. You can trace its path as it wobbles around the Arctic Ocean and Canadian northern territorities.

There is also a weakening of the magnetic poles and the potential that it will divide into several poles and eventually even reverse. Probably not in our lifetimes.

Its effects on life are not clear. It probably will not effect the ozone levels, which protect us from UV light. But it might drop the guard that protects us from high energy charged particles from the sun. This could cause some measurable increase in cancers and mutations although it is not clear how much or for how long before the switch is complete.

Answer 3

1st answer best so far.I HAVE SOBERING NEWS THOUGH.i BELIEVE IT WILL HAPPEN IN OUR LIFETIME.. WITHIN 10 YEARS EVEN.
It will be sudden.The earths crust will likely shift suddenly and fragment to try to compensate and an age will end.So I believe but, so what, maybe we'll be lucky, it might be our grand-kids(kidding).It is overdue though!!

Just read your add-on.The effect would be dramatic on earth physically.Forget birds and plants, worry about continents ripping apart, earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis.And they would occur in a flash, simultaneously and concurrently

Answer 4

I was going to build a giant house of cards. Now youve spoiled it for me

Answer 5

not sure but sounds like a great pancake!

Answer 6

thought it will be a sudden change
birds will be confused