Earth's magnetic pole shifting; Alaska may lose northern lights

Rapid City Journal ^ | 8 Dec 05

[rellimpank]

SAN FRANCISCO -- Earth's north magnetic pole is drifting from North America at such a clip that it could end up in Siberia in the next 50 years, scientists said Thursday.

Despite accelerated movement over the past century, the possibility that Earth's fading magnetic field will collapse or that the magnetic poles will flip is remote. But the shift could mean that Alaska may no longer be able to see the high-altitude shimmering displays of colorful lights called the aurora borealis, or northern lights.

Scientists have long known that magnetic poles migrate and in rare cases, swap places. But exactly

[rellimpank]

--as if we didn't have enough to worry about--

[ChadGore]

It's a completely natural event, had happened a lot in earths history.

[goodnesswins]

Hmmmmm.....wonder if that affects WEATHER? ....and let me be the first to say.....

Bush's fault!

[Sertorius]

Let me be first to say "Bush's fault!"

[rellimpank]

--should have noted sarcasm--

[Termite_Commander]

I remember reading a few months ago about polar reversals. That wouldn't be pretty scenario.

Still, there are far more pressing issues to worry about. After all, the chance of a full reversal actually happening is pretty small.

[JRios1968]

Earth's north magnetic pole is drifting from North America at such a clip that it could end up in Siberia in the next 50 years...

If only Bush had signed Kyoto!!! < /sarc

[snarks_when_bored]

Those danged HAARP bozos did this. We Americans are evil incarnate.

...

Uh, sorry, I thought this was Art Bell's website. Never mind.

[Darksheare]

http://www.sec.noaa.gov/pmap/pmapN.html

Semi-related.
(Deals with the aurora and current coverage and viewing probability)

[BenLurkin]

SUVs!

[editor-surveyor]

The exact location of the north magnetic pole migrates cyclically in a figure eight pattern. Astronimers and navigators have maintained tables of magnetic declination for over 500 years. This movement is well known and is no threat to anything.

[neodad]

poles migrate and in rare cases, swap places

Sounds like a bad reality show in Gdansk.

[editor-surveyor]

Astronimers = Astronomers

[ark_girl]

Yep. Between this and half of the documentaries on the Discovery channel explaining how North America can blow up or we can have a giant asteroid hit the earth or dinosaurs can come back to rule the planet again and kill us all...if we spent time worrying about all of this stuff we can do nothing about, we wouldn't be able to make ourselves get out of bed in the morning.

Life is fatal. The 100% statistic is compelling.

[beaver fever]

"It's a completely natural event, had happened a lot in earths history."

And it takes several thousand years for the earth's magnetic poles to reverse.

We are entering that transitional phase according to some scientists. How it effects the weather is pure speculation.

[decal]

"But the shift could mean that Alaska may no longer be able to see the high-altitude shimmering displays of colorful lights called the aurora borealis, or northern lights."

ARRRGH, Global Darkening is upon us!

[Dustbunny]

Oh no, now the 'magnetic pole is falling'. Poor Chicken Little is going to out of a job.

[poindexter]

Women and minorities hardest hit...

[COEXERJ145]

We're all going to die and it is Bush's Fault.

[REDWOOD99]

Are the Northern Lights unrestricted free agents? Won't Alaska get a compensatory draft pick if the Lights sign w/ Russia?