Magnetic Polar Reversal? Can anyone give insight on its implications?

Question

After discovering a website by archealogist called Patrick Geryl, I have become very concerned regarding his predictions for 2012. Apparently the magnetic fields of the earth are set to shift, causing massive earthquakes that will destroy buildings etc. Is this true? Can anyone give some implications?

Answer 1

Polar reversals take place at (irregular) intervals averaging about every couple of hundred thousand years. So far life on the Earth hasn't been adversely affected and there is no reason to think that when the next one takes place it will be any different. The time it takes a polar reversal is on the order of tens of thousands of years (25,000 years, as an example) and in the interim, secondary dipoles assume the role of the primary dipoles. This means that for a (short geologic) time, harmful solar radiation will be directed elsewhere than the polar regions. Any attempted connection to the 2012 fable is nonsense. It is doubtful that any increased tectonic activity will occur due to an impending polar reversal, but I cannot rule that one out. The bottom line is that polar reversals do not occur overnight, and any catastrophic damage would not be seen in a persons lifetime.

Answer 2

No one knows what happens during a reversal; whether there will be increased earthquake activity or not. The earths field may be decrementing itself towards zero right now, but no one can say for sure that we are in a reversal phase. The reversal may take 100 years, so it's not like we will all be jerked around by this thing. A sudden reversal would seem to be catastrophic if the change of angular momentum of the core preceded too quickly, because the outer shell would have to compensate. But nobody really knows what will happen. As far as I know (which is not much) this has not been determined to be an extinction event. If it was, I could see everything larger than a mouse becoming extinct (this is an approximate statement).

Answer 3

Eh, earthquakes are unlikely. Its not ruled out along with increased volcanism due to a disruption of pressure of gases in the crust and mantle, but the most pressing problem would be the temporary weakening of our atmosphere and protective ozone layer. During the time of magnetic pole reversal, there will be a lot more of solar radiation including UV and other harmful rays reaching the planet. Most of them are blocked now by our atmosphere, but WHEN this happens it will be very different. Cancer will become much more regular than even today.

If the liquid outer core of the planet (which gives us the magnetic field) were to shut down permanetly it is believed our atmosphere would vanish and we would become a Mars like planet.

Also, if it switches our compasses would point to magnetic south not magnetic north (different than true north). How wierd.

You're right too, we are set for a reversal.

Answer 4

A magnetic polar reversal is a metamorphosis interior the Earth's magnetic field such that the positions of magnetic north and magnetic south grow to be reversed. The final reversal grow to be approximately 780,000 years in the past. through fact it grow to be see you later in the past, no one knows for confident what motives it, no count if it relatively is organic and on a cycle, like sunspots, or no count if it relatively is brought about with the aid of asteroid effect. Scientists think of that the poles will opposite sometime interior the years 3000-4000 advert. What this would do, is unknown, and because we will not stay to work out it, it won't count.

Answer 5

The tragedy of magnetic pole reversal is a hidden controversy in modern society.

The Earth's magnetic poles have been reversing themselves for billions of years according to magnetic signatures found in the rock of the ocean floor. This reversal occurs approximately every 100,000 to 300,000 years, but one has not happened in about 250,000 years (though different sources claim many different numbers).

The effects of a magnetic pole reversal are varied and argued. We do know that many things rely on the magnetics of the Earth to navigate. The compass market as we know it would be rendered obsolete. Creatures such as birds and crabs that use the magnetics of the Earth to navigate will lose their sense of direction. The process of a reversal does not seem to occur quickly though. There is a period of time when the Earth does not carry a magnetic signature. Most creatures would have ample time to adjust to the change, but the lack of magnetics has other side effects. The sun's cosmic rays are deflected away from the Earth by its magnetics. A loss of this, and we are hit by an increased amount of radiation. The effects of this radiation are unknown, but some type of change appears imminent.

My current advice is to not cash in your insurance policy. The poles may flip, but it will take some time. I look forward to the coming excitement.

Answer 6

During the history of the earth the magnetic poles have reversed and drifted away from the rotational axis and at times been a general mess. However, my understanding of the process is that it is gradual process. The USGS article on pole reversals does not say anything about earthquakes, etc. due to pole reversals.

http://geomag.usgs.gov/faqs.php#eight

Answer 7

http://www.nepanewsletter.com/polar.html
trueer words were never said this is an honest relative artical to read on this matter.

http://www.viewzone.com/changingpoles22.html
here are other theories to look into if you want to