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Forum » SpaceEngine » Science and Astronomy Discussions » Is Earth's Magnetic Field reversing !? (Are we in danger?)
Is Earth's Magnetic Field reversing !?
neutronium76Date: Sunday, 20.05.2012, 09:54 | Message # 1
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Hi Space Fans all around the globe.

I recently watched this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY2MrQKiIoM and I am sure many of you must have heard about it.
What is your opinion? When is it going to happen and how long will it last? And what will be the effects on life on earth? Is it related to the 2012 hype?



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HarbingerDawnDate: Sunday, 20.05.2012, 11:38 | Message # 2
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neutronium76, I haven't seen this particular program, but in short a pole-reversal would be a reasonable explanation for the behavior of our magnetic field over the last few centuries. If this is the case, then the full process of the reversal will probably take a few thousand years to complete, and the midpoint in that process (when the polarity of the field is weakest) probably won't occur for at least another thousand years. That last point probably answers your last question; this has nothing to do with 2012, and the hype surrounding the supposed doomsday comes from an overactive imagination, conspiracy theory, and a misinterpretation of the Mayan calendar.

As for the effects of life on Earth, it will probably have little to no effect. Earth has experienced countless magnetic pole-reversals in the past, and life has carried on just fine. I know of no correlation between pole-reversals and any extinction events. Keep in mind that the polarity can weaken and reverse without affecting the overall magnetic field strength, so Earth need not ever be unprotected in order to experience a pole-reversal.

Such is my opinion and understanding on the subject, anyway.



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DoctorOfSpaceDate: Sunday, 20.05.2012, 12:39 | Message # 3
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It is related to the 2012 hype to some people but in reality its a slow process and won't happen for some time. A small article from NASA from 2003 explains it pretty well.

http://www.nasa.gov/vision....ld.html



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neutronium76Date: Sunday, 20.05.2012, 21:25 | Message # 4
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Quote (HarbingerDawn)
and the midpoint in that process (when the polarity of the field is weakest) probably won't occur for at least another thousand years


Aha. But why does it take so long to reverse?? I mean the Sun reverses polarity every 11-12 years and that is when its activity peaks. Why is the reversal process so slow on earth? Or is it a completely different process for the sun and the earth? And why do they make these documentaries so dramatic? They exaggerate the phenomenon to an extent of causing public hysteria and panic!



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HarbingerDawnDate: Monday, 21.05.2012, 00:31 | Message # 5
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Quote (neutronium76)
But why does it take so long to reverse?? I mean the Sun reverses polarity every 11-12 years and that is when its activity peaks. Why is the reversal process so slow on earth?

The process that occurs on the Sun during the solar cycle isn't the same as the process of an Earth pole-reversal. And in any case Earth is not nearly as energetic as the sun, and isn't made of charged particles, so our magnetic field isn't nearly as dynamic, and changes take much longer to occur.

Quote (neutronium76)
And why do they make these documentaries so dramatic? They exaggerate the phenomenon to an extent of causing public hysteria and panic!

That's the media for you. They have to capture your attention somehow. dry



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