Will Compasses Point South?

New York Times ^ | July 13, 2004 | WILLIAM J. BROAD

[Servant of the 9]

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 field's strength has waned 10 to 15 percent, and the deterioration has accelerated of late, increasing debate over whether it portends a reversal of the lines of magnetic force that normally envelop the Earth.

During a reversal, the main field weakens, almost vanishes, 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.

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. But experts said the repercussions would fall short of catastrophic, despite a few proclamations of doom and sketchy evidence of past links between field reversals and species extinctions.

[Servant of the 9]

A reversal could knock out power grids, hurt astronauts and satellites, widen atmospheric ozone holes......

That makes a lot more sense than the ozone layer being destroyed by spray Right Guard.

So9

[dts32041]

women and minorities hit hardest.

[ClearCase_guy]

Women and minorities are really gonna be hit hard by this!

[Conspiracy Guy]

This is Bush's fault.

[ClearCase_guy]

Dang!

[wbill]

It's Bush's fault.

[wbill]

Dang!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Late.

[Izzy Dunne]

compass needles that normally point north would point south,

Horse puckey.

Compass needles do not point to geographic North now - they point to the North magnetic pole, somewhere in Canada at the moment.

They would continue to point to the north magnetic pole, even if it moved to Argentina.

[The Sons of Liberty]

Quick - Get Algore on this! It HAS to be the Republican's fault!

[wbill]

I think there's an echo in this thread.

[dead]

I think there's an echo in this thread.

[Logic n' Reason]

I wonder who gets to throw the switch to change the magnetic field of the earth??

Now THAT</B< would be a cool job!

Think of the power....!!

[ladtx]

Hope it's not as catastrophic as Y2K was.

[Logic n' Reason]

Sorry about the html...can't type!

[Redbob]

"A reversal could... widen atmospheric ozone holes,..."

OF course;
so the only solution is to ban the internal combustion engine and stop free trade, right?

[RockinRight]

Seems kinda tinfoil hat-ish to me. However, as you said its more plausible than suggesting that the Aqua-Net the 80s hair metal bands used caused an ozone hole.

[litehaus]

Ad on Page 6!!! Getcher new compass--- only $9.99 plus shipping.........

[Conspiracy Guy]

7 seconds.