Are the earth's magnetic poles really reversing?

Question

If so, how will this affect day to day life. Surely it will affect aerolanes etc.?

Answer 1

"You could perhaps take comfort in the knowledge that these reversals happen infrequently—on average every 250,000 years—but maybe not when you consider that it's been over 700,000 years since the last reversal, and the next one may be currently underway."
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/magnetic/reversals.html

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

"...most modern navigational equipment does not use the Earth's magnetic field because there are many "magnetic anomolies" that cause compasses not to point due north.
Geomagnetic reversals are common (on geological time-scales)
occurring on average once every 200,000 years. From geological evidence (magnetic fields "frozen" in old rocks) it appears that the reversal process itself takes on order of 1000 years, so the effects would not be noticeable in your lifetime."
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy99/phy99357.htm

Answer 2

The Earth is overdue for a pole reversal, but don't worry; it takes several tens of thousands of years for the reversal to take place. During that time minor dipoles take over the normal dipoles, directing harmful cosmic radiation elsewhere than the polar regions.

Answer 3

I have read that in the past few years the magnetic field is diminishing in strength. This is said to happen before a reversal. Do you think that THIS is the real cause of the much ballyhooed global warming?

Answer 4

According to a bunch of different sources December 21, 2012 we will allign perfectly with the sun and the very center of our galaxy which could cause a polar shift. Whether the shift will be swift or slow the after-effects are sure to be catastrophic.