Posted on 07/12/2004 4:05:31 PM PDT by mkj6080
The collapse of the earth's magnetic field, which both guards the planet and guides many of its creatures, appears to have started in earnest about 150 years ago, the NY TIMES is planning to report on Page Ones Tuesday.
Science reporter Bill Broad has filed a report, according to newsroom sources, which explores how: 'The field's strength has waned 10 percent to 15 percent so far and this deterioration has accelerated of late, increasing debate over whether it portends a reversal of the lines of magnetic force that normally envelop the earth."
Broad explains: "During a reversal, the main field weakens, almost vanishes, and then reappears with opposite polarity. Afterward, compass needles that normally point north would point south, and during the thousands of years of transition much in the heavens and Earth would go askew."
Broad claims: "A reversal could knock out power grids, hurt astronauts and satellites, widen atmospheric ozone holes, send polar auroras flashing to the equator and confuse birds, fish and migratory animals that rely on the steadiness of the magnetic field as a navigation aid."
Developing...
This explains why my refrigerator magnets are not staying put.
Usually torque rods are used to unload momentum in a reaction wheel system (or gas jet) for attitude control. This is primarily used in low Earth orbiters as apposed to high altitude platforms such as geosync. Torque rods are quite common.
Oh no, LOOK! The magnetic field has reversed, now my toilet swirls in the opposite direction! Aaaaaarrrrgghh!
As many as it takes to keep rewriting the truth.
It's Bush's fault ...
Calling shaggy eel...calling shaggy eel...
...time for us to get back into the Magnet business....
As others have pointed out, the coriolois effect has nothing to do with magnetism.
But, further, the direction your toilet, sink, or bathtub drains has NOTHING to do with Coriolois or the location of your toilet in either hemisphere; for something that small Coriolois simply doesn't matter.
The direction it drains depends on on the shape of the container (and it can be controlled by VERY subtle changes in shape) or any lingering currents from when the toilet or sink or whatever is filled. It's largely random.
Sharpies take advantage of idiot tourists in equatorial countries by taking them back and forth across the equator "demonstrating" containers draining in opposite directions on either side; they do this by manipulating the container.
I know, I was kidding. :)
What do you think I am, a DUmmy?
It can be hard to tell since the sink/coriolis thing is probably the most universally believed science myth in existence :-)
,,, I have extensive reserves of firewood, Pepsi, questionable quality literature and a broad grin, which to date hasn't been compromised by any sort of pull, least of which a magnetic one. Hold onto your parts, when the compass starts spinning like a kitchen fan, we're in for a fun time.
I hope it isn't bad for our Mood Ring inventory.
No need to get a new compass. The back side of the needle would still point North.
Is this the "polar shift"? Is this related to the earth changing it's axis of rotation?
I'm noy s phsicist, but I've seen people play them on TV.
Couldn't the collapse of the magnetic field result in huge electrical currents, kind of like a hyper-ultra-Wicked Huge EMP, cooking cmos components?
I.e. all the chips are dead, and so are the machines that make them...and the machines that produce electiricity, and the machines that distribute water...etc.
Now THAT would be a disaster film- nothing broken, nothing going up in a mushroom cloud...but nothing other the hammer, can opener, and 1911 still working.
We're DOOMED!!
,,, gee, there's a thought. Al Gore will have an answer for that, I just know it.
John Kerry surely can't find a magnetic personality.
Coinciding with the beginning of the GOP, this process was obviously part of a long-term strategy by Lincoln to subjugate the South.
So the Civil War goes on...
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