Study: Earth's magnetic field is changing

MSNBC ^ | August 18th, 2008

[Raineygoodyear]

There are these changes in the South Atlantic, an area where the magnetic field has the smallest envelope at one third [of what is] normal," said Mioara Mandea, a geophysicist at the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences in Potsdam, Germany. Even before the newly detected changes, the South Atlantic Anomaly represented a weak spot in the magnetic field — a dent in Earth's protective bubble. Bubble bobble The Earth's magnetic field extends about 36,000 miles into space, generated from the spinning effect of the electrically-conductive core that acts something like a giant electromagnet. The field creates a tear-drop shaped bubble that has constantly shielded life on Earth against much of the high-energy radiation flowing from the sun. The last major change in the field took place some 780,000 years ago during a magnetic reversal, although such reversals seem to occur more often on average. A flip in the north and south poles typically involves a weakening in the magnetic field, followed by a period of rapid recovery and reorganization of opposite polarity. Some studies in recent years have suggested the next reversal might be imminent, but the jury is out on that question. Measuring interactions between the magnetic field and the molten iron core 1,864 miles down has proven difficult in the past, but the constant observations of satellites such as CHAMP and Orsted have begun to bring the picture into focus. Electric storm Mandea worked with Nils Olsen, a geophysicist at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, to create a model of the fluid core that fits with the magnetic field changes detected by the satellites. However, the rapid weakening of the magnetic field in the South Atlantic Anomaly region could signal future troubles for such satellites.

[Bubba_Leroy]

We are all going to die!!!

In less than 120 years, every man, woman and child now living on Earth will be dead!

[Myrddin]

The toilet water will swirl in the opposite direction when we flush.

Not unless the earth reverses its direction of spin. That swirl is Coriolus effect, but it is mostly a chaotic event for small masses of water. Larger masses such as storms operate as expected with the Coriolus effect.

[tickmeister]

The Clintons will consummate their marriage.

[Waco]

2012 again. Hoo Boo, oh hoo boo. (see, somethings different already )

[SunkenCiv]

Earth’s Core, Magnetic Field Changing Fast, Study Says
National Geographic Society | June 30, 2008 | Kimberly Johnson
Posted on 07/10/2008 1:53:24 PM PDT by hripka
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043609/posts

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks To Hell With Poverty.

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[Charles Martel]

I actually do know about the Coriolis Effect. Guess I should've posted a winking emoticon to let everyone know I was just funnin'.

But hey, as imaginary cataclysmic events go, the planetary spin reversal thing could be a real money-maker for the Sci-Fi Channel. Better than Mansquito, even. < grin >

[BenLurkin]

Now THAT’S the question!

(BTW — your screen-name is fine. No need to change!)

[Liberty1970]

The earth's magnetic field is decaying rapidly, with a half-life of about 1400 years. At that rate the field would have been stronger than a magnetic star less than 20,000 years ago. Their claim that it last reversed in 780,000 is in blatant contradiction with the published evidence tracking the field strength since 1830, and is clear evidence that their dating method is extremely faulty.

Creationists have developed a robust model of the creation and decay of planetary magnetic fields that has successfully predicted the magnetic fields of everything we've since measured (the predictions were in 1984, and since then most of the planetary bodies in our solar system have been measured). We also have a working understanding for the rapid reversals of the magnetic field found in the geologic record (in some cases a major portion of a reversal took place in the time it took a single lava layer to cool - imagine what a compass would have been doing at that time!)

Here's a few ref's for more information:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v20/i2/magnetic.asp

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v13/i3/fossil.asp

http://www.icr.org/article/329

[Snickering Hound]

[editor-surveyor]

This is supposed to be news?

We were talking about this in highschool in 1960.

[Raineygoodyear]

In the cycle forecast issued Wednesday, half of the panel predicts a moderately strong cycle of 140 sunspots, plus or minus 20, expected to peak in October 2011. The other half predicts a moderately weak cycle of 90 sunspots, plus or minus 10, peaking in August 2012. An average solar cycle ranges from 75 to 155 sunspots. The late decline of Cycle 23 has helped shift the panel away from its earlier leaning toward a strong Cycle 24. Now the group is evenly split between strong and weak.

[Mike Darancette]

Now here is a problem that we can really worry about. We don’t know what will happen but it can’t be good.

The left is not screaming but they haven’t figured a way to use this to their advantage, yet.

[PhatHead]

“This is the moment the magnetic fields began to shift...”

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Raineygoodyear.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2068001/posts?page=45#45

[Myrddin]

The only real issue with the magnetic field is the exposure we would have when it drops to minimum before a reversal. It leaves us wide open for a CME to have impacts all the way to the surface. It might also leave our satellites exposed. Reversals are real events that are nicely recorded in rock formations. As a rule, I don't get too worked up over things that happen in geologic time. Most of us will be dust before they matter.

[mathurine]

I’m banking on two big meteors impacting the earth, one in Moscow and one in Teheran; God don’t like ugly.

[GOPJ]

This one might be real - I’ve heard about it off and on for a number of years.

[Straight Vermonter]

I would assume that the Earth, Sun, center of the galaxy alignment happens every year.

[FreedomOfExpression]

I assume you left something out since two points are always aligned to each other. So it's the sun, the galaxy center and what other point?

Raineygoodyear was referring our solar system passing through the galactic plane.
There was an article posted some months ago where this phenomenon was brought up. However, from what I remember, scientists couldn't agree exactly when that would happen.

I haven't been able to find that post in order to give you a link.