With talk of magnetic pole shifts everywhere in the news and specific people's preferred TV programs, I was perplexed. I chose I wanted to find the bottom of exactly what a pole shift meant, if it would be possible and what the results will be on people.
What is the Magnetic Field?
Magnets come in all different shapes and sizes but in essence all of them share the same characteristics. In a smaller sized magnet, electrons are aligned in a single direction, building a negative and positive pole. Our planet is essentially a giant magnet, that is generated by the shifting convection currents of liquid magma deep underneath the earth's surface. The entirety of earth's magnetic field is just like a massive bar magnet running from the center. Presently it is positioned 11 degrees from the real north pole; this is where magnetic north is situated.
False beliefs about pole shifts
Polar shifts are generally a favorite subject of the people shown on Doomsday Preppers. Whether it is national geographic's doing or not, I will leave to you but the descriptions of what they are preparing can range into the absurd. Paul Range and Gloria Haswell for instance are worrying massive geological change when the earth's magnetic pole shifts. It is like the hypothetical bar magnet would tear the planet apart. Knowing what leads to magnetic north to be where it is (especially, currents far below the crust) you should realize why this is impossible.
This even goes for the idea of a pole shift displacing continents on producing rises in sea level. The action is happening deep in the mantle, a location which is moving always. Whether currents are going in a single path or another has no effect on the actual activity. If it did, the geological report might present remarkable motions in the documented pole shifts that have taken place as time passes. Rather, continents have moved as gradually as always throughout the earth's historical past.
What polar shifts are
Polar shifts relate to the earth's electromagnetic field. Although this might be terrible information for the world's Canadian Goose population, there are critical effects to human beings also. Unfortunately, they have absolutely nothing to do with geological phenomena, but bring another old friend into the picture: electronic disaster due to coronal mass ejections.
The magnetic field of the earth is what shields us from solar rays. Just like a forcefield, it protects us and the connection between it and solar energy is manifested in the northern lights. Where a pole shift might be risky is if it momentarily is lowered through the switch. The possibility of a polar shift occurring in the near future is widely known. According to Conall MacNiocaill of Oxford University, true north has moved over 900 miles in the past century, and the power of the magnetic field has decreased around 10%.
This would make us a lot more prone to EMP-leading to coronal mass ejections from the sun, especially when it comes to satellites. Though it might not get Lord of the Flies instantly, GPS tracking and satellite communication could be disrupted overnight. Combined with a moving north pole, it is probably a good time to learn how to navigate by stars.
What is the Magnetic Field?
Magnets come in all different shapes and sizes but in essence all of them share the same characteristics. In a smaller sized magnet, electrons are aligned in a single direction, building a negative and positive pole. Our planet is essentially a giant magnet, that is generated by the shifting convection currents of liquid magma deep underneath the earth's surface. The entirety of earth's magnetic field is just like a massive bar magnet running from the center. Presently it is positioned 11 degrees from the real north pole; this is where magnetic north is situated.
False beliefs about pole shifts
Polar shifts are generally a favorite subject of the people shown on Doomsday Preppers. Whether it is national geographic's doing or not, I will leave to you but the descriptions of what they are preparing can range into the absurd. Paul Range and Gloria Haswell for instance are worrying massive geological change when the earth's magnetic pole shifts. It is like the hypothetical bar magnet would tear the planet apart. Knowing what leads to magnetic north to be where it is (especially, currents far below the crust) you should realize why this is impossible.
This even goes for the idea of a pole shift displacing continents on producing rises in sea level. The action is happening deep in the mantle, a location which is moving always. Whether currents are going in a single path or another has no effect on the actual activity. If it did, the geological report might present remarkable motions in the documented pole shifts that have taken place as time passes. Rather, continents have moved as gradually as always throughout the earth's historical past.
What polar shifts are
Polar shifts relate to the earth's electromagnetic field. Although this might be terrible information for the world's Canadian Goose population, there are critical effects to human beings also. Unfortunately, they have absolutely nothing to do with geological phenomena, but bring another old friend into the picture: electronic disaster due to coronal mass ejections.
The magnetic field of the earth is what shields us from solar rays. Just like a forcefield, it protects us and the connection between it and solar energy is manifested in the northern lights. Where a pole shift might be risky is if it momentarily is lowered through the switch. The possibility of a polar shift occurring in the near future is widely known. According to Conall MacNiocaill of Oxford University, true north has moved over 900 miles in the past century, and the power of the magnetic field has decreased around 10%.
This would make us a lot more prone to EMP-leading to coronal mass ejections from the sun, especially when it comes to satellites. Though it might not get Lord of the Flies instantly, GPS tracking and satellite communication could be disrupted overnight. Combined with a moving north pole, it is probably a good time to learn how to navigate by stars.
About the Author:
Thanks for reading! Terrance Franklin writes about nutrition and survival on a variety of sites on the web. For more information on doomsday preppers, be sure to check out doomsday preppers. And for even deeper reading, follow the link at doomsday preppers
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