Has anyone any idea what North & South poles 'flip-over' means?

Question

This happens every 1 million years I think?

Answer 1

CPUcate, no offense but you are wrong: the Earth does not "flip over". It is the MAGNETIC FIELD of the Earth that "flips"! For this airmaps note the difference between magnetic north and TRUE North, and there is a slow shift (0.025 degrees per year), so Air maps have to be renewed regularly.
The consequences of a full reversal are unclear and debatable.
However, since it is the Earth magnetic field that "controls" the flux of solar particles and protect us from the deadly gamma rays, should the field WEAKEN, we would be in serious trouble (bombarded by solar radiations: remember, the Sun is an atom bomb that has been blowing up for the last 10 millions years).
During the reversal, it is possible that some zones on Earth would become more exposed to radiations than others.
We do not really know, but is should not change much...

Answer 2

The north geographic pole of the earth is the south pole of a magnet.

(Alas geographers name this pole the "North magnetic Pole" of the earth.)

Perhaps the name of the magnetic poles will be corrected when the United States adopts the metric system.

The earth is not a permanent magnet it is an electromagnet. Its magnetism is made by electric currents flowing inside the liquid metal core of the earth.

The magnetic poles of the earth flip over every few hundred thousand years or so. So the name will be corrected by nature at some point in the future. These changes are named "magnetic reversals."

When a rock cools it freezes in the direction of the magnetic field through the rock. When lava cools at the mid ocean spreading ridges it records the direction of the earth's magnetic field. The resulting bands of north and south magnetized rock provided crucial evidence for continental drift.

Answer 3

It means the reversal of the magnetic poles. The North pole becomes south and the south pole becomes north. It has happened occasionally in the past and seems to be linked to the reversal of the suns magnetic poles. Scientists don't really know what to expect when it happens, it doesn't happen very often. The Mayan calendar predicts the next reversal around 2012.

Answer 4

Yes, it is very simple to put in words but very very hard to explain fully, basically you have the earth with its poles

N

S

every million years through the power of the seafloor spread and the power of the poles reverses and causes a massive change in the earths atmosphere and polarity, this changes from the above to

S

N

its a very big change because you could leave from england going north (actaully south) and end up at the south pole instead of the north pole. All compasses reverse polarity.

Answer 5

It means a reversal in the Earth's magnetic field.

There is debate going on at the moment about the potential harmful effects of this, since the field is currently decreasing and it looks like a reversal will happen in the next thousand years or so.

It may be pretty bad for us (actually deadly), since our planet's magnetic field is what protects us from the sun's most harmful rays, and when the field goes through a reversal it passes through a zero point, so protection is lost. However, early man survived several reversals so all is not lost...

Answer 6

Where to start with this one... When the magnetic poles do shift, it takes centuries, it wont happen in one year or any year soon. China is in the Northern hemisphere already, look at a map. England is to the East of the US, so the Sun does rise from the direction of England (more or less). 2012 will be the year after next, it is not a joke, but all the crap about galactic alignments, pole reversals, impact with a nonexistent planet so forth, is made up by people who want to sell you books and movies.

Answer 7

if the flip is sudden its a problem
if the flip is mild still there is a problem
when the north pole will move slowly going south poles, surely
the north pole will pass the equator. . . there will be
. . . a) melting of snow both the north and south pole
. . . b) many will experience global change in temperature
. . . b) many animals will migrate
. . . c) many animals will die
. . . d) many plants will die
. . . e) There will be lot of earth quake, because of earth's
. . . . . eccentricity will change or flattening or poles will
. . . . . will be shifted to the equator
. . . f) there will be tidal wave, because of the movement of
. . . . . of the earth crust
. . . g) the will be volcanic eruptions
. . . h) famine is eminent
. . . i) many nations will be involve in war.
. . . j) this is holocaust, but this is not the end of mankind
. . . k) surely . . NOT. . the end of the world.

pray this will not happen.

Answer 8

yeah the magnetic north pole becomes the south - there is evidence in rocks a sediment layers as the magnetics bits of them face the other way

sorry its not very clear i know what i mean but cant put it in words

Answer 9

It means the magnetic fields change not the actual geographical location......every so often..not sure how many million years, the magenetic fields flip over so Magnetic North moves to the south..............

Answer 10

when the poles change it will cause lots migration problems for fish & birds