does it seem like a pole reversal will be disastrous?
145575
No it doesn't. It is expected to be pretty dull. \n\nThe earth has experienced hundreds of polarity reversals and none of them have been correlated with any sort of extinction event. There is no evidence of a change in climate brought about by the most recent reversal, and no evidence that the earth's tilt changed measurably. Monsoon records from Chinese loess deposits did not show any change in weather patterns attributable to polarity reversals. \n\nWhile we are statistically overdue, it may take another 2000 years before it happens, and there is just as good a possibility that the reversal will turn out to be an excursion and simply result in a restrengthening of the existing field. \n\nHere is a good site to read up on it:\nhttp://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/venus/RevScience.html
452277
Earth's magnetic field constantly fluctuates to some degree (it's weakened by about 10% since the 19th Century), but the majority of geophysicists see no hard evidence that the field is about to reverse like it's done in the past.\n\nEven should it reverse, the whole cycle takes thousands of years, and still would have little effect on our electrical power systems. Nor would planes fall from the sky, although reliance on magnetic compasses would have to be adjusted.\n\nGod should be spelled B-I-G B-A-N-G\nPBrax@netscape.com
654251
No, because the charges will have to distribute to opposite sides of the strip (as if it was a loop rather than a mobius strip), however since we are dealing with a one dimensional object (essentially), the charges cannot do this.
333791
Probably not. I think the end will come from environmental destruction causing melting of the ice caps, then, when the balance of the planet is thrown off enough, the earth will change its axis of rotation ( as it has done several times already according to the geologic survey ). This will be devestating to all life on the planet and the earth will be reborn.
1132644
The Sun has a roughly 11-year sunspot cycle, however, with the ending of each cycle, the polarity of the Sun's magnetic field reverses so that the North magnetic pole becomes the South and vice versa. Every 22 years we end up with the polarity returned to its 'previous' state. There have been many studies of what happens to Earth's weather when these flips occur, but to my knowledge, there has been no conclusive evidence that polarity reversal does much of anything. \nhowever for a given hemisphere, the overall magnetic polarity does not return to its previous polarity for 22 years; the Hale Cycle. It takes the Sun 22 years for the polarity in a given hemisphere to return to the same state.\n\nHope this helps.\n\nGood Luck.
660044
if you are talking about the geological subject, them im thinking its a ticking time bomb that will errupt into something catastrophic one day. it could be far far into the future but we really need to consider the potential damage. At the same time it will be forming new land (though that takes a while) and the plates will probably start causing more and more serious earthquakes in places that have never felt them before, therefore noone will really no what to do.. in short, were all doomed. Seriously, i hope not, but its kinda like when people build condos on the beach, ur taking an awfully big risk of natures fury to take it out like a toothpick. but theres not much anyone can do other than advise against it if they see potential activity
1130179
I believe that if one puts one's mind to it, one will be surprised at how much one can accomplish.  But "anything"?  Nope.  Surely someone in the last few centuries has turned his or her will to the reversal of the Earth's rotation, to minimal effect (except for a splitting headache).  But men have walked on the moon.\n\nAlmost anything is possible, but not all by the hand of individual humans.  Sometimes we need to gang up.
12610
Nope.  They better not.  That would be the worst.  We still say "pole strength" because bar magnets have poles.  Monopole would mean just a north or south pole alone, which doesn't happen. Dipoles, quadrupoles, and the like are in abundance, so "pole" is still a good word.
716050
I just saw a NOVA on this. One thing that was mentioned is that during the reversal, it's possible that for a period there would be 4 poles. There is evidence from rocks and computer models to support his. During this time, radiation would funnel into the lower latitudes where we, as a world, are heavily populated instead of the currently unpopulated poles. There would be an increase in cancer rates but not enough to be considered a "radiation epidemic". People in the lower latitudes would see the aurora borealis as well during this time as well - quite a bonus.\n\nCheck out http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/magnetic/ for more information.
502394
No(yes). It is not real(it is).\n\nhttp://www.poleshift.org/sublim/
156410
Yes, it is likely that we are experiencing a reversal at this time. \n\nThe earth's magnetic field has been decreasing in field strength by about 5% per century in recent times. This is one of the fastest decreases of the magnetic field that has ever been verified. Around 700 AD the earth's magnetic field was about 50% higher than it is now. At this rate, it is estimated that the earth could reach a zero-strength magnetic field in about 2000 years. Magnetic reversals are usually triggered when the field strength approaches zero.  Another indication that some geologists and geophysicists believe may be pointing to a reversal is that the poles have been wandering at a faster rate than is commonly seen in the rock record. This instability of the magnetic field suggests we may be close to a reversal. \n\nAlso consider that since we have never experienced a reversal this is hardly a certainty. The earth's magnetic field fluctuates quite widely during what are known as 'excursions', and these are as frequent as every 50,000 years. Our current changes in the magnetic field may result in nothing more than an excursion, which is not a reversal of the field. There have been at least 11 of these excursions since the last reversal at 730,000 years before present. \n\nI've done magnetostratigraphic work.
234240
Because if it went counterclockwise time would be going in reverse? :)
944389
I researched this as a geology student 20 years ago and has interested me since then.  By researching cores of basalt, they have a pretty good idea what the magnetic field does when it starts to shift but it is somewhat random and slow.  I remember that typically, before the switch in polarization, the poles starts to migrate in a spiral as it is doing now.  It has been an extra long time since the last switch so it is due.  I suspect that it is about to switch (within the next thousand years or so) but no one can say for certain in my opinion.  Apparently there is a period of time (100 years or so) when the field is next to zero in strength.  I saw a show on it recently that demonstrated they have learned a lot since I studied it in school.
688672
It's probably better for you to explain to your child that it's not possbile do to the hot magma than to give him/her false information.  But I guess if it were possible, than yes, you would be upsidedown after passing the center.
90424
If there is no field during a reversal, the charged particles will not be spiraling down the field lines to collide with the upper atmosphere at the poles. This might have some effect on the ozone layer, which does interact with the incoming charged particles. \n\nIt was recently confirmed that the charged flux of solar storms depletes the ozone layer. With no magnetic field, this would be more evenly distributed over the entire earth rather than just at the poles (see reference). There might be less charged particle flux trapped as well, since the earth's field extends out a considerable distance. So it should allow more ozone to build up. \n\nPreviously, some had wondered if the influx of charged particles created more ozone (see reference).
158627
I would assume it is possible but improbable. The chances of it happening are probably very very very slim.
344189
I am guessing yes, the Texas coast is long over due for a "bad" one.  I hope I am wrong!!!