On the average this happens every 250,000 years. The last time was the Brunhes-Matuyama Reversal, about 780,000 years ago. Would we notice the change? I know that the magnetic poles are constantly moving.
2007-03-18 17:03:56 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
I'm sorry, but "duh" was not the answer I was looking for. Don't forget to collect your consolation prize on the way out.
2007-03-18 17:08:23 · update #1
There are certain animals that are thought to use the earth's magnetic field for navigation: some migratory birds, for example. It might be a disaster for them.
It is interesting to speculate exactly how quickly this flip occurs. One could predict some pretty drastic effects if it happened relatively slowly (in human terms, that is). Thankfully, GPS systems could supplant magnetic compass systems for navigation.
2007-03-18 17:10:59 · answer #1 · answered by Jelq 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Earths magnetic field is so weak, I doubt there would be any sensation whatsoever. The compasses would point opposite to what they do now. What causes an iron magnet to reverse its poles? Heat weakens it, if it is struck by a hammer it might realign opposite. But it needs another strong or stronger magnet to realign it. The spin of the earth must have some electromagnetic effect on the polar alignment of the magnetic field. Just pondering the idea.
2007-03-19 01:17:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The earths magnetic field shields us from the Solar winds. Without the magnetic field to buffer out these radio active ions then all the water and atmosphere would be striped away from earth.
2007-03-19 00:56:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one knows for sure. Some speculate that because the earth's magnetic field shields us from harmful solar particles, that it might cause widespread problems - probably increased radiation. If the flip occurs quickly, the worst outcome would be difficulties with older navigational tools.
2007-03-19 00:07:29 · answer #4 · answered by wigginsray 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magnetic reversals take on the order of tens of thousands of years to complete, during which time secondary dipoles assume the job of the main dipole. I wouldn't be too worried about it, since it is doubtful you will live for more than a hundred years, and totally inconceivable you would live for 30,000 years.
2007-03-19 18:15:02 · answer #5 · answered by Amphibolite 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
simply put if the earth's magnetic field were to reverse itself then your compasses would point somewhere south instead of north. we would only all die if the magnetic field were to disappear. but this isn't quite posiible unless the earth were to cool so much the the molten layer of liquid iron turned solid.
2007-03-19 00:15:59 · answer #6 · answered by syssang4 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would guess that the ones that would feel the greatest change are the animals that rely on the magnetic fields to find their way. Specially marine animals that depend heavily on it to find their way through the ocean.
2007-03-19 00:08:34 · answer #7 · answered by jqdsilva 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There would be a sharp increase of cosmic-rays comming down on the earth. Leading to the extinction of many living things.
2007-03-22 00:43:04 · answer #8 · answered by john h 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be very bad ...pole shift its what i think is going to happem Dec 2012 ....flood ,volcanos, massive world wide flooding we would lose over 2/3 of human population
2007-03-19 00:14:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If that happened, our compasses would all be broken. duh!
2007-03-19 00:06:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋