All articles tagged with #earths magnetic poles
Recent research shows that human-made dams have significantly impacted Earth's magnetic pole positions and rotation by redistributing mass on the planet, leading to a shift in the Earth's surface and a drop in sea levels, highlighting the profound influence humans have on planetary processes.
Earth's magnetic poles are weakening, and if the geomagnetic field decays enough, the poles could flip, with North becoming South and South becoming North. While the last pole flip occurred around 780,100 years ago, the events have been shorter in recent history. The cause of this phenomenon is still unclear, but it is believed to be related to turbulence in the Earth's molten iron core. While a pole flip may not pose a significant threat to life on Earth, it could have implications for modern-day technology, as our magnetic field protects us from charged particles during solar storms. The damages from a powerful geomagnetic storm could be significant, potentially costing trillions of dollars. During a full geomagnetic reversal, compasses would point South, and there would be a chaotic period where multiple poles might form, causing confusion for navigation. The flip doesn't happen overnight and can last thousands of years.