July 14, 2004

Will Compasses Point South? "The collapse of the Earth's magnetic field, which both guards the planet and guides many of its creatures, appears to have started in earnest about 150 years ago. The field's strength has waned 10 to 15 percent, and the deterioration has accelerated of late, increasing debate over whether it portends a reversal of the lines of magnetic force that normally envelop the Earth."
posted by homunculus 20 years ago
  • I am reminded now of a Meme from Days of Yesteryear which ran something like this: "Sweet little upside-down cake, Cares and woes you've got 'em -- Dear little upside-down cake, Your top is on your bottom."
  • Ack! The earth is flipping! The earth is flipping! Run about. Scream and shout. Call the panic squad.
  • Huh? My compass already points..... um, nevermind.
  • Mine points NW (seriously). Living so far north has its disadvantages.
  • beeswacky: bwhaaaaa ha ha!
  • Somebody hand me that Mayan calendar- I want to check something . . .
  • Fascinating stuff. The Nova program talked about how auroras will be visible at all latitudes during a flip, and not at just the polar regions. And did anyone else notice that one of the magnetic anomoly pockets is exactly where the Bermuda Triangle is located? /cue spooky X-Files music
  • WWCFD? (What Would Charles Fort Do?)
  • That New Scientist article contradicts another article I read earlier. The New Scientist article claims the field will drop to 10% of normal. However, another article I read (must look up) said that the field drops by up to 25% (i.e. 75% of normal). That is a humongous difference. The New Scientist article also states that a drop to 10% of normal would pose a threat to the atmosphere and life on the planet while at the same time claiming that the earth has flipped polarity hundreds of time. Well, if it were that dangerous, I doubt we'd all still be here today. Of course, it then proffers another explanation for why we still have an atmosphere, but I'm at a loss as to which article to believe (must find, must find...)
  • Solar wind to shield Earth during pole flip. Then the geology professor was wrong; we're not all going to die.