Posted on 11/25/2013 10:59:28 AM PST by BenLurkin
The European Space Agency’s Swarm constellation flew into space on Friday (Nov. 22) on a quest to understand more about the Earth’s magnetic field.
Around the same time, ESA put out a few videos explaining why the magnetic field is important. This one explains that the magnetic field has weakened over the past few years, while the north pole has shifted direction. “In fact, a whole pole reversal is possible,” the narrator says. “It happened last 780,000 years ago at the very beginning of human history. But cavemen didn’t have mobile phone networks, GPS networks or power supplies.”
If a reversal did happen, it could affect those systems, the video adds, asking “Will we soon find ourselves back in the stone age?”
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
Maybe that is why they were cavemen, huh?
At least the natural disaster is an equal-opportunity killer.
Hey, living in caves with lead linings couldn’t be all that bad,, except for wifi reception. kind of like living in a concrete jungle, only cozier..
Man rails at the forces of nature, nature usually wins.
The cycle repeats.
This has a “Far Side” cartoon opportunity written all over it!
Our mgnetic field is incredibly complex. I recently saw a magnetcic photo taken of earth from satellite. Magnetically, the earth looks a lot like jupiter including a great spot.
I keep hearing this but what would make it more real would be how many degrees off the compass is from the equator? If it is not affecting the compass because it has moved only ten feet, then maybe they’re a little hysterical.
If we go back to the Stone Age then Afghanistan will be aiding us.
/johnny
Poles do reverse quite often, geologically speaking.
Even in the event of a pole reversal we wouldn’t be left unprotected. The earth would still have a great deal of residual magnetism.
Maybe we’d get back to reading books.
The poles move miles per year normally. Its not a big deal for most of us but pilots notice it.
Considering that I'm single and can (and do) experiment as I please with technology, I've got pretty substantial magnetic fields here at the home place. A compass doesn't work too well on my property. ;)
/johnny
Magnetic maps of the Atlantic sea floor appear like zebra stripes as the poles flip flop over the eons.
I don’t think the reversal would matter too much in most everyday things. The thing that may be of concern is a weakening of the field, as it keeps many of the nasty cosmic rays from reaching the earth.
Sounds like someone might propose new taxes and new government agencies to save the nation and the Earth from the newly discovered and possibly caused "Man-made Global Magnetic Pole Reversal". Oh, the humanity! Shame on those evil people who are doing this to Mother Earth by demanding lower electricity rates.
My neighbors are always complaining about my flux capacitor.
Exactly.
When the field finally reverses, the difference in degrees would be about 180 degrees or so :0)
The fact of reversal is nothing to worry about.
There will (however) be a ~ 7000 year period of magnetic weakening as it shifts over. Places like London will have the Northern lights. Cancer rates might go up in high latitudes. All very gradual.
the people who cant tell their a$$ from a hole in the ground are gonna be even more confused
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