What Will Happen When the Sun’s Magnetic Poles Reverse?

universetoday.com ^ | August 6, 2013 | by Nancy Atkinson on

[BenLurkin]

The flip-flopping of the Sun’s magnetic field takes place at the peak of each solar activity cycle when the Sun’s internal magnetic dynamo reorients itself. When the field reversal happens, the magnetic field weakens, then dies down to zero before emerging again with a reversed polarity.

While this is not a catastrophic event, the reversal will have effects, said solar physicist Todd Hoeksema, the director of Stanford University’s Wilcox Solar Observatory, who monitors the Sun’s polar magnetic fields. “This change will have ripple effects throughout the Solar System,” he said.

[IronJack]

One-word answer: Sharknado.

[Zeneta]

[knarf]

We’ll have to press “2” for Engrish

[Menehune56]

It happens on Earth too.

Yes it does and it hasn't happened during recorded history so no one really knows what happens during a geomagnetic reversal.

[BenLurkin]

Hmmm...I was wondering why I found these........on my window sill this morning...

[x]

[central_va]

Magnetic Poles

[Errant]

Lucky dog... Enjoy the new Earth! Think about us from time to time, will ya?? ;)

[Nifster]

same thing that happened around 11 years ago....if this were new phenomenon or very rarely occurring maybe we should all be worried. But come on folks this happens during sun spot cycles and has for as long as we have been able to measure

[reg45]

Probably the same as eleven years ago when it last reversed.

[SkyDancer]

Twinkies will then be classified as health food.

[Conspiracy Guy]

And repaint runway numbers all over the world. Those are “paint brush ready jobs” right there. The solar flip/flop is Bush’s fault caused by global warming.

[a fool in paradise]

Jimmy Hoffa’s gravesite will be illuminated by the solar event.

[Zeneta]

See my post #6 on this thread:

So, the Sun’s “Solar Activity” has a long history that runs in 11 year cycles. What happened last time would be a good start in answering the question. Pop Science journalism.

[InterceptPoint]

As I understand it the sun’s poles don’t actually swap directions. What actually happens is that the direction we know as NORTH trades places with the direction we know as SOUTH.

Everywhere in the universe.

Don’t worry. Nothing will really change. All you will notice is that things fall UP instead of DOWN and people and animals walk on their hands instead of their feet.

[Errant]

Nope, those are positive and negative Poles. Pictures of magnetic Poles would have both a North and South. ;)

[cripplecreek]

I'm still hoping they'll run with my idea.



Death Stalks the rows (Stolen from another FReeper)

[mikrofon]

Reversed Polish Notation

[familyop]

"The Sun’s magnetic field will likely reverse sometime in the next three to four months."

"'The sun’s north pole has already changed sign, while the south pole is racing to catch up,' said Phil Scherrer, another solar physicst at Standford."

So which is it, Ms. Senior Editor/Ambassador?

[GreenHornet]

Damn Sequester!