What do you think of the theory that earth changes its magnetic field?

Question

There has been alot of evidence coroborating this flip in magnetic field. And it has been shown to happen hundreds of times (if not more). The implication is that when it gets ready to flip again the normal magnetic field of the earth disappears or seems not to be easily detectable. What will this do to navigation, etc.? I also heard that the earth is getting ready to do this again in the very near future. What mechanism is responsible for this?

Answer 1

There is evidence of magnetic pole reversal in Earth's history. Examining the alignment of metal crystals in the MOR rocks on the Atlantic Ocean floor shows this pattern occurring many times throughout history. Geologists suggests it may be caused by the molten iron/nickel core of the Earth. Since one hasn't happened in recent times, there's no way to know for sure how it might affect us. You can be sure it isn't an instantaneous switch... it is very gradual.

Answer 2

The magnetic field has changed. To try to derive any implications from this is rather pointless as we have no way of verifying until it happens. It may be an instantaneous change which I think is the most likely as the the field is a function of the Earth's mass. For the field to disappear, the Earth would have to have zero mass.

No one can predict when it will happen and the effects it will have except the magnetic North pole will be somewhere in Antarctica. This is a bit of scaremongering linked to the theory that the Mayans, a rather barbaric civilization, were superman would could predict the future. And why worry? You can't do anything about it. But, I see no reason to worry, the change in magnetic fields has never wiped life from the Earth before, so why should it next time?

Answer 3

the reversal of magnet polarity is no more difficult than the reversal of AC current in your buildings electric service. remember that magnetic properties and electric propertes are related and interact. any sea mariner will tell you that reversal of a ship compass needle is possible after electric storms, especially in the old wood ship days. we do not have a strong theory as to why and how the earth magnitic field is generated, so we cannot be too confident as to what causes reversals, but both phenomenon are known to exist. There is something about the earth physics that tends to keep it oriented near the spin axis.

Answer 4

I wouldn't put it the way you put it, as if the Earth is some kind of entity that controls polar reversals. The Earth is, at first approximation, a magnetic dipole. Given the age of the Earth at 4.5 billion years and regular reversals at every 250,000 years there have been 18,000 reversals of polarity. But you won't live to see one, a reversal takes tens of thousands of years to complete, during which time secondary dipoles assume the role of the primary dipoles. So just stop worrying about it.

Answer 5

This is thoery...no one has documented it yet. But..
The Magnetic poles DO MOVE slightly each year...Why they move may be due to the "wobble" in the Earth's axis of rotation.
When and IF a total reversal of magnetic fields occur most people wouldn't even notice it.
People that rely on navigation by compass would be affected the most, but most navigation today is not done by compass but by satellite GPS.

Answer 6

This won't happen overnight, so don't worry. The reversal of earth's magnetic field is thought to be attributable to the "wobbling" of our planet on it's axis as travelling through space. Just as a top wobbles when off-center, and eventually falls, our planet won't "fall", but it is thought that it could up-end itself; thereby reversing the magnetic field we now know as "normal."

Answer 7

Not a theory. There is geologic evidence (magnetized materials) that show the field has changed many times over the millenia.

Answer 8

well I have to believe it. but its not a "mechanism" it is the continental drift, that's moving the plates, and rearanging it.