The Earth's Magnetic Poles May Be About To Flip

[SalixIncendium]

"Experts warn the reversal could cause widespread blackouts and make parts of the world 'uninhabitable.'"

Earth's magnetic poles show signs they are about to flip | Daily Mail Online

A bit concerning, at least from a layman's standpoint, is the earth's magnetic field has weakened by 15% in the last 200 years.

The article goes on to suggest that, as a result, solar winds could punch a hole in the ozone layer, cancer rates could increase, power grids could fail, and there would be an adverse effect on weather.

Could this lead to the extinction of many species, including humankind? Could this be the proverbial "end of times?" Or might this be Y2K all over again (where there was much ado about nothing)?

Thoughts? Opinions? Well researched theories?

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

The first result from searching the topic is from National Geographic, and indicates that it's Y2K-level overreaction.

 

[David T]

"Experts warn the reversal could cause widespread blackouts and make parts of the world 'uninhabitable.'"

Earth's magnetic poles show signs they are about to flip | Daily Mail Online

A bit concerning, at least from a layman's standpoint, is the earth's magnetic field has weakened by 15% in the last 200 years.

The article goes on to suggest that, as a result, solar winds could punch a hole in the ozone layer, cancer rates could increase, power grids could fail, and there would be an adverse effect on weather.

Could this lead to the extinction of many species, including humankind? Could this be the proverbial "end of times?" Or might this be Y2K all over again (where there was much ado about nothing)?

Thoughts? Opinions? Well researched theories?

Which parts?

 

[Revoltingest]

Humans will survive it.
But compasses will suffer.

 

[Terese]

I wish our governments would actively try to fix the global warming crisis we are facing. It is a serious thing, and to leave it without repairs could potentially doom us. And i'm the optimist

 

[sun rise]

The estimates I've read is that we'll all be safely dead when this happens if it does happen since in the past the flip started and then did not happen sometimes.

 

[Revoltingest]

I wish our governments would actively try to fix the global warming crisis we are facing. It is a serious thing, and to leave it without repairs could potentially doom us. And i'm the optimist

Optimists are confident that we'll survive a warmer planet.
Less land....more ocean....sunbathing in Svalbard...it's all survivable.
But there will be carnage along the way.
That's the real downside which is being largely ignored.

 

[SalixIncendium]

The estimates I've read is that we'll all be safely dead when this happens if it does happen since in the past the flip started and then did not happen sometimes.

Yet I'm intrigued by the proposition that this occurs every 300,000 years, but hasn't happened in 780,000.

 

[Terese]

Optimists are confident that we'll survive a warmer planet.
Less land....more ocean....sunbathing in Svalbard...it's all survivable.
But there will be carnage along the way.
That's the real downside which is being largely ignored.

I think we can survive the warmer planet too, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do anything to reverse its effects.

 

[Revoltingest]

I think we can survive the warmer planet too, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do anything to reverse its effects.

To convince the deniers, unsupportable sky-is-falling claims should be avoided.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Yet I'm intrigued by the proposition that this occurs every 300,000 years, but hasn't happened in 780,000.

It occurs at irregular intervals...like a wide river that is on average six inches deep...individual results may vary quite a bit...

If I remember correctly, a typical "reversal" takes hundreds to thousands of years...and it's not like the magnetic field goes away, it just generates several fluctuating north and south magnetic poles before reestablishing a bipolar configuration...

 

[Polymath257]

Yet I'm intrigued by the proposition that this occurs every 300,000 years, but hasn't happened in 780,000.

The 300,000 years figure is an average. But reversals are *very* irregular, so even a stretch of 780,000 years isn't too unusual. One of the mysteries is what causes the reversals. The obvious contrast is with the reversals on the Sun, which happen pretty regularly every 11 years (some variation, but not a lot). With the Earth, the pattern of reversals is distinctive enough that we can determine ages of some sequences just by matching up with known ages elsewhere.

The other thing is that the magnetic field of the Earth has been decreasing for a while now. Don't expect a sudden reversal. And, don't expect huge increases in cancer or anything like that. past reversals have certainly NOT been associated with extinction events or even significant changes in environment. Think about it: life has been around 4 billion years or so. There have been *thousands* of reversals during that time period.

 

[Polymath257]

It occurs at irregular intervals...like a wide river that is on average six inches deep...individual results may vary quite a bit...

If I remember correctly, a typical "reversal" takes hundreds to thousands of years...and it's not like the magnetic field goes away, it just generates several fluctuating north and south magnetic poles before reestablishing a bipolar configuration...

The bipole aspect decreases and reverses, but the higher order multipoles remain.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

The bipole aspect decreases and reverses, but the higher order multipoles remain.

yeah, that...

 

[wizanda]

Well researched theories?

Could this be the proverbial "end of times?"

There is a prophetic earthquake, yet this is as Heaven is seen here...

There are prophetic warnings that the fourth angel pours out a vial from the sun that scorches mankind (Revelation 8:12, Revelation 16:8-9).

There is also increased earthquakes and volcanic activity, which could interlink with the fifth angel who causes volcanoes to blacken the skies (Revelation 9:1-2, Revelation 16:10-11).

I love global eschatology, and yet don't know anywhere that can tie up a pole reversal perfectly; know of many events this might trigger, that are then listed, yet nothing really showing we will flip.

In my opinion.

 

[Twilight Hue]

"Experts warn the reversal could cause widespread blackouts and make parts of the world 'uninhabitable.'"

Earth's magnetic poles show signs they are about to flip | Daily Mail Online

A bit concerning, at least from a layman's standpoint, is the earth's magnetic field has weakened by 15% in the last 200 years.

The article goes on to suggest that, as a result, solar winds could punch a hole in the ozone layer, cancer rates could increase, power grids could fail, and there would be an adverse effect on weather.

Could this lead to the extinction of many species, including humankind? Could this be the proverbial "end of times?" Or might this be Y2K all over again (where there was much ado about nothing)?

Thoughts? Opinions? Well researched theories?

Well researched with the Daily Mail? *Snickers*

The magnetic poles flip regularly. I suspect we will survive just fine.

Anyways did anyone set a date?

 

[`mud]

Someone said "Fix it..." ????? Really ??
Oh well....I don't have to go anywhere anyway !
At 79....who the hell cares !
~
And that again !