is a pole reversal happening right now?explain.?
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.
448051
it's happening right now
317090
Yes, it's moving and every now and then (like, millions of years) it reverses direction. The North Pole goes South and viceversa.\nBut I'm sure that has nothing to do with your coffee creamer!!!
356220
Depends on your point of view. If you're hovering above the North pole, the earth rotates counter-clockwise. If you're hovering above the South pole, it rotates clockwise.
182867
The basic observations were done thousands of years ago. THe ancient Greeks knew that the direction of the pole changes over time (also known as the progression of the equinoxes). Of course, it wasn't until recently that this effect was explained by the wobble of the earths axis. It used to be seen as just another cosmic cycle.
844842
I'm pretty sure it's called the Coriolis Effect. You can look it up.
971959
yup the same phenomenon is observed near the south pole, but it has a different name. it is called 'aurora australis'
145182
Some time zone lines do not extend to the poles. There is actually a polar time for the north pole and the south pole. See the link below.
1184111
hey buddy! hello.\nwe all know that the earth rotates around the sun and also on its own axis. we also know that an imaginary line divides the earth into 2 equal halves. this line is the equator. the upper part is the north side and the lower is the south side. the axis of the earth does not run perpendicularly, but is tilted at an angle of about 16 degrees (if i remember it correctly)\n\nnow, as the earth rotates simultaneously on its axis and around the sun, it so happens that sun rays fall on one side that is either on north or on south side for continuous 6 months. this means that there is day for continuous 6 onths on one side and night on the other. so, it totaly depends that at what time of a year you r comparing both the poles temperature. if you compare the temperature of the 2 sides in the month of june, north pole will be hotter and south pole will be cooler. opposite happens during december and january. \nat a certain time it may also happen that temperatures of both the poles are same! this may happen at the time of transit. that is when sunshine is equal to both the poles!\n\nhope i have answered u.\n\ngood luck.
902848
Need2know You are on the big news!!…\nhttp://www.osoq.com/funstuff/extra/extra04.asp?strName=Need2know
89051
On average, about once every 250,000 years or so Earth's two magnetic poles switch---the north magnetic pole becomes the south magnetic pole, and the south magnetic pole becomes the north magnetic pole. This means, among many other things, that compasses would all point south instead of north.\n\nScience knows that these pole reversals do happen. Some ancient rocks tell the story. In the far distant past these rocks were molten. At those times their interior materials would align themselves to Earth's magnetic field, much the way an electromagnet will. Careful analysis shows that the magnetic lines of force imbedded in these rocks often were directly opposite to Earth's present magnetic field.\n\nThe last pole reversal happened some 700,000 years ago, so we're sort of overdue for another one.
773087
None of the answers given so far can be right.  The Earth doesn't spin bolt-upright, the rotational axis wobbles over time (precession).  Both poles alternately spend 6 months of the year in continuous sunlight with little or no darkness, and then 6 months in almost perpetual darkness, so it cannot be just due to the amount of sunlight available.  \nI seem to remember reading an explanation for this that relates to the Earth's magnetic field channelling solar radiation away from the polar regions toward the equator.  Presumably then the poles are colder because the magnetic poles happen to be relatively close to the rotational poles and the radiation is being channelled away from these areas ?
1074720
none of the answers is correct , actually magnetic lines of force will be acting in anticlockwise direction.
728543
From USA Today:\n\n"Q: Why does most of our weather come from the west if the Earth is rotating the opposite way?\n\nA: When looking down at the North Pole, the Earth spins counterclockwise around its axis. A point on the equator travels at about 1,100 mph, while a point directly at the poles does not move at all. An apparent force called the Coriolis force results from this difference in speeds, deflecting objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis force, combined with solar heating patterns across the Earth, create distinctive wind patterns that drive weather systems.\n\nOne prevailing surface wind pattern that results is located in the mid-latitudes, between 30 and 60° North. Solar heating alone, without the Earth's rotation, would produce prevailing southerly winds. The Coriolis force, however, deflects these winds to the right, creating prevailing winds out of the west and southwest (the westerlies). \n\nSolar heating patterns in the tropics, from the equator to about 30° North, combined with the Coriolis force, produce weak prevailing winds out of the east (the easterlies). Southern regions of the USA, including Florida, are affected by the westerlies at times and the easterlies at others."\n\nHope this helps explain it. Check the first link for other weather questions and second link to see a full explanation of the consequences of rotation on weather.
135567
well there are two answers.  The pole is actually shifting as we speak albeit to such a minor degree that we would never notice during our lifetimes.  The present 'north star' polaris was not always the 'north star' and in the future a new 'north star' will take it's place.  There have been drastic pole shifts possibly resulting from the passage of an enormous comet or asteroid within or close to the orbit of the moon.  When this occurs, drastic changes take place in a short span of time.  It is theorized that the break-up of pangaea into the continents was caused by a sudden pole shift.  From Straight Dope :Geologist Jean Andrews of Columbia University has found evidence to suggest that 180 million years ago the poles were displaced about 22 degrees from their present alignment, with the North Pole located on the northern coast of what is now the Soviet Union.
700963
Thank you very much for the link you gave. I read this news yesterday night on Yahoo. I have forgotten about this until you have remind me. Thank you again.  \nIs there any other way for us to view it other than using a telescope? I don't have a telescope.
533660
that hasnt happend yet for me.\n\n\nSCRATCH THAT IT JUST HAPPENED TWO SECONDS AGO AFTER SEEING THIS QUESTION AND ANSWERING IT......CLICK BELOW AND YOU\nWILL UNDERSTAND . http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Am09LdpFPtgHsSKE8bogL2bzy6IX?qid=1006052824653