NYT: COLLAPSE OF THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD ACCELERATES (Via Drudge)

Drudge Report ^ | 7/12/04 | Drudge

[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...

[uglybiker]

Only Michael Moore would need a commode that wide.

[SierraWasp]

Art Bell and George SNoree with have multiple orgasms over this... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

[NorseWood]

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.

I've been looking all through my Atlas but I can't seem to locate Earnest, where this appears to have started.

[Citizen Soldier]

LOL!

[SierraWasp]

"confuse birds, fish and migratory animals that rely on the steadiness of the magnetic field as a navigation aid"

Actually... It sounds more like the Repellican Party leadership in CA!!!

[I'm ALL Right!]

It's ALL BUSH'S FAULT!

[dalereed]

Even if they change their migratory habits it could turn out to be a public disaster!

The environazis will be looking for all their furry and feathered friends in all the wrong places and scream for every one of them to be put on the endangered list when they can't find them.

Just like kangaroo rats, which are nocturnal, they look all over for them durring the day and can't find any when their millions of the nasty little rats!

[uglybiker]

...but I can't seem to locate Earnest, where this appears to have started.

Ah didn't start nuthin'!! Musta been Vern!

[djf]

I think you might not have northern lights anywhere till it settles down. The reason is that the northern lights are caused by charged particles. These charged particles are "focused" at the north pole (and south) by the magnetic field. So if the field decays, the regular flux of particles that might hit any given area is probably too small to give any light effect.

[Nowhere Man]

Geographic North would be the same. Magnetic North would change to South but the process goes back and forth many times over a long period in terms of human lives. The field also reverses in some parts before other parts of the world. Magnetic navigation would be very tricky for a long time. But that's where GPS satellites can take up the slack.

Don't forget there is also navigation by the stars and radio navigation too. I once read a 1943 book on aeronautical navigation on how planes can use longwave beacons for navigation and in a pinch even AM radio stations. I think that's how the Japanese homed in on Pearl Harbor, the lead plane set the radio direction finder on the local AM station in Honolulu and the rest was history.

I know today we also have VOR station for aeronautical navigation and I think one of the LORAN (LOng RAnge Navigation) either A or C is still in use too for shipping. I have to check on that one, I think A was phased out. I remember as a kid picking them up just above the AM band around 1900 kc or so. The British has a similar system called Decca that was in use during World War II. You might see a return to those system if the magnetic field goes haywire.

[RightWhale]

That would be correct. The flux would be defocused.

[NorseWood]

I guess Earnest is bipolar too!

[PeaceBeWithYou]

.ay llet I DEMOOD ,demood er'eW

Just practicing.;-)

[Grim]

[Jim Robinson]

"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."

Oh, no! It's Y2K all over again! Best start hoarding spam again!

[Wilhelm Tell]

This is based on very sound science.

I'm glad there are at least a few serious posts about this article. I'm not sure who are worse -- the environmental radicals who use junk science to "prove" that earth would be a paradise if only mankind were extinct, or the flat earthers who think that all science is junk science and a conspiracy against the purity of our bodily fluids. It will be an interesting problem as this will be the first time the magnetic field shifted when humans had technology, as someone here noted. I'm more concerned with what the increased radiation will do to our electronics than I am concerned with what the increased radiation will do for cancer -- am I a geek or what?

[festus]

;So, even the poles are joining the flip-flops.

Yup they are the foreigners for Kerry perhaps ??????

ba-da-boommm........

[ExtremeUnction]

do you have to put in batteries backwards?

Which way will toilets flush??!!

[djf]

Start hording? I still got my Y2K Tuna!

Probably taste like dolphin by now!

:-)