2007-09-29 12:21:25 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
yes, the magnetic banding of the plates in the north Atlantic shows that the magnetic poles do switch. As the rock is formed from the mid-ocean ridge it sets with the magnetic poles and this switches directions every so often if you conduct a magnetic survey across the ocean it shows that... What you really want to think about is what happens when the poles shift? (would we get fried by cosmic radiation? etc...)
2007-09-29 12:41:40 · answer #1 · answered by , 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The evidence is strong for reversals of the Earth's magnetic poles. The spin axis does wander slightly, but predictions that the rotational poles will move radically due to Planet X, pink unicorns, or whatever, is pure crackpottery.
2007-09-29 23:20:33 · answer #2 · answered by injanier 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes pole shifts do happen. Through the study of geology, its been found that some rock formations that have magnetic properties, have there magnetic alignment different from the current polar alignment. This implies that when these rocks were formed, their atoms were aligning with the earths poles of their time.
2007-09-29 19:33:49 · answer #3 · answered by j p 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely! They happen every several thousand years on average. We know this because of sea-floor spreading - as the hot magma comes up, the particles line themselves to the magnetic field - there are symmetrical stripes where sometimes they face as they are now, and sometimes they face the reverse.
2007-09-29 20:26:23 · answer #4 · answered by Smarty-Marti 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They do happen. They've happened before.
2007-09-29 19:52:22 · answer #5 · answered by Blackbird 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋