Magnetic Pole Reversal
So, whats a magnetic reversal? I know about the North and South Poles. Scientists have been observing changes in the direction of earths magnetic field which took place recently as well as in the distant past. NASA’s website features a map showing the gradual northward migration of the north magnetic pole in the past century and a half. This is not science fiction but science fact!
There doesnt seem to be any pattern that scientists can uncover that will help us predict when the next pole reversal will happen. The range- 5,000 to 50,000 years between reversals. Like, dont hold your breath!
The strength of this magnetic field in the time of dinosaurs was an estimated 2.5 gauss, or about eighty percent stronger than it is now. The weakening of earth’s magnetism is one of the factors believed to be predictive of a pole reversal. That magnetic field reversals have occurred in the past is confirmed in the geological record. What is unclear is how precisely the transition occurs, and what happens to life forms extant at the time of this pole flip.
While all of this sounds too far out there consider our life source, the SUN!
The sun reverses its magnetic field like clockwork every eleven years at the peak of the sunspot cycle. The next solar flip is due in 2012. South-pointing magnetic flux moves from sunspots, which are intense magnetic loops near the equator of the sun, along “meridional flows” to the north magnetic pole, and vice versa. As the oppositely-directed charge accumulates at the poles the field declines, until eventually the reverse charge predominates
Magnetic reversals have already happened 171 times in the last 76 million years, but whos counting? Getting closer to home, 14 of them have happened in the last 4.5 million years. Scientists are agreed on a lowering of the strength of the magnetic field is a sign of greater pole reversal.
Around the birth of Jesus, magnetic intensity was the greatest. Today, the intensity is 38% lower. Also, measurements taken from around 1900 show a seven percent drop in intensity.
All of that aside, what we dont know is what effects such an event would have on life. We can guess, but maybe we should ALL work together to increase our awareness and consciousness instead.
Think maybe?