The Meaning of Geomagnetic ReversalThe term geomagnetic reversal is used to describe a change in the magnetic field of the earth where the magnetic north and magnetic south switch places. It also can be used to refer to the polarity reversal of any magnetosphere . This phenomena is totally different from the pole shift theories. There are both proponents and critics of theories of reversal of magnetic poles. Proponents think that solar flares or solar storms can result a polar shift and attributes this to the fact that the earth's magnetic field is weakening. They say the weakening of the magnetic field indicates that a reversal is due. Critics claim that it takes thousands of years for a reversal to take place. Scientific Research of Magnetic FieldsScientists have confirmed that north and south poles do flip on both the sun and the earth. It happens more frequently with the sun which leads to solar maximum. They can tell that solar maximum has arrived by studying the sunspot cycle . At the peak of the cycle, the magnetic poles of the sun switch places.The magnetic poles of the sun reverse about every eleven years. They did so in 2001 and are expected to do it again in 2012. As the earth goes, it also experiences magnetic reversal as well, but less frequently than the sun does. It is not as predictable as the suns magnetic pole reversals because no specific pattern has been identified. On average, they are thought to occur every 400,000 years. It is unknown what a reversal of magnetic poles on earth would do, but
NASA scientists
say that as far as they know, such a reversal would be harmless.
|