Magnetic pole reversal

[TonyZ]

just curious...if the magnetic poles really reverse, what would be the impact?...

[excal]

http://www.exitmundi.nl/poleshift.htm

[/0]

http://www.exitmundi.nl/poleshift.htm

awesomes site

[brightsky]

I'm pretty sure Earth's magnetic poles shift every couple of millions of years. I'm guessing the only impact would be its affect on your compass (lol) and what it would do in terms of sea floor spreading, etc. But other than that, I don't think it would be anything too major! :p

[QuantumJG]

The Earth's magnetic field will swap over, but the swap will be so gradual you won't live to see it. According to the website it swaps every 250,000 years and it has dropped by 10% since 1859 (or in 150 years +/- a year), so you can understand how gradual it is.

The Earth's magnetic field strength is fairly weak (~10^-5 T) and yet it protects us from cosmic rays (primarily from the Sun). If you use the right hand slap rule, you can work out that the cosmic particles actually travel to the North or South poles in a helical motion.

Magnetism is cool.