2007-04-25 16:05:35 · 5 answers · asked by Keyno 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
It is well known that the poles have flipped many times in the earths past. They do not simply "change ends" but move elsewhere. For instance the North pole was once situated under the Sahara desert.
Scientists are generally agreed that the process of flipping has begun. The magnetic pole is moving at 14 kilometres a year but this is probably not connected. More important is the mid Atlantic anomaly and all the other smaller ones which appear to be growing. (Where the magnetic flux is going in the opposite direction to which it should).
No one knows whether flips happen slowly or quickly Whether over a few hours or days, or years, tens of years of tens of thousands of years.
The likelihood seems to be that we are seeing a slow start which is likely to go on for quite some time to come. The eventual flip may then happen fairly quickly in geological terms - perhaps ten or tens of years.
2007-04-26 01:35:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
We may be in the process of a magnetic polar reversal, where the earth's magnetic field decreases to zero, then rebuilds with the north magnetic pole near the south geographic pole. This involves changes in electrical currents in the earth's core, not a physical flipping of the planet. It has happened numerous times in the past, and provided key data in coming up with the theory of plate tectonics.
2007-04-25 17:07:04 · answer #2 · answered by virtualguy92107 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If we were, you wouldn't have to ask, and there might not be an Internet to ask on. A change in the polar axis is a catastrophic event.
2007-04-25 16:50:15 · answer #3 · answered by Helmut 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No .. the polar axis doesn't flip all the way over. It wobbles but that's it
2007-04-25 16:13:47 · answer #4 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, if we were, we would all know it..
2007-04-25 16:10:56 · answer #5 · answered by xyz 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋