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.

[Mr.Atos]

Core samples from the mid-Atlantic ridge show a pattern of repeating flips throughout geologic history. Someone correct me, but I believe the average length of a period is in the neighborhood of 10,000 years. (My Geomorphology background is a decade old and a bit rusty). The event is is not unique by any means - to the Earth nor to Man. What IS unique however (and of grave concern), is that an upcoming 'flip' will be the first such event to impact 'modern' man... dependent on radio waves, electric grids, electromagnetic fields, compasses, polarity, etc. The effects are unknown. The 'flip' itself will be one issue to contend with. But, no one is really certain how long the interval between polarity will last. In geologic time it is relatively insignificant as to be imperceptible. But, that could be anywhere from 1 to 500 years.

Now we witness the irresponsibility of 'kook' science. So sure have environmentalists wanted to be about the Greenhouse Effects impact on the Earth's temperature and the variations in Ozone - Man's destruction qua industrialization - that they NEVER considered other rational possibilities. Man has WASTED decades of time, effort, and millions discussion one problem, while not preparing for another... possibly the real problem. The geologic record told us this was coming. NO DOUBT!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Me too. Me too.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I am wringing my hands now to avoid the rush to wring hands. It is hard to type and wring at the same time.

[Tribune7]

The problem w/ the Times is that nobody on that paper has read Chicken Little or the Boy or Cried Wolf.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I will continue to type with my nose so that my hands are free to wring.

[jpl]

Bush knew, and the pole shift is being caused by greedy Americans driving SUVs.

[Conspiracy Guy]

played piano with nose? I'd pay to see that.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I wonder if Kerry has a dog named Medals?

[Atlas Sneezed]

What IS unique however (and of grave concern), is that an upcoming 'flip' will be the first such event to impact 'modern' man... dependent on radio waves, electric grids, electromagnetic fields, compasses, polarity, etc. The effects are unknown.

---

Except for compasses (which are not very important for modern navigatin with inertial and GS systems) I don't see any problems. A flip in field will affect a piece of power equipment as much as taking the equipment, and slowly rotating it by 180 degrees (oh no!) Even if the flip were fast, and induced high currents in power lines, there are circuit breakers. These could be reset, and left alone for another 10,000 years.

Or maybe we should just go back to the woods, so we are not dependent on technology that may temporarily fail in the next 1000 years.

[bigeasy_70118]

What does this have to do with John Kerry's service in the Vietnam War?

[Lazamataz]

I think there's an echo in this thread.

[Lazamataz]

It's George Bush's fault.

[Servant of the 9]

What does this have to do with John Kerry's service in the Vietnam War?

He kept it from happening in the '60s

So9

[Mr.Atos]

There is indeed value in allegory. The lesson of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, is not that there was no danger, but that the real danger was ignored when it descended on the flock. The media has abandoned a responsibility to facts and information, and the Democrats have abandoned any respect for responsible discourse. Therefore, Bush is Grendel in a Hitler costume and Global Warming is causing odd variations in the Earth's environment. So what happens when, a REAL global catastrophe is looming?... or a true monster emerges in the American political scene? The reaction can be witnesses right here in the infinitely more rational realm of the FreeRepublic. Amused, frustrated, disregard.

The polarity shift is real and it will happen. Now, granted, it may be as insignificant as the scrolling of 99 to 00. But, it might also cause significant problems from severe infiltration of solar radiation, to disruptions in communication and power generation that might last for decades. Who knows. When it comes down to a crisis, Man can solve any problem presented. This will be dealt with accordingly... if we address it correctly and responsibly.

What I find amusing, as I hear the environmental flock of green anti's bleat on about Global Warming and Greenhouse Gasses, is that at some point in near human history, the Earth will begin to slip again into the chasm of ice age (as it does on interval). At that time, some genius will promote greenhouse gas generators to solve the problem of global cooling. Terra forming will promise the survival of the human race through a long bleak period of catastrophic frigidity. Giant SUV's will save the human race. The irony of chicken little coming home to roost is somehow heartwarming. I just hope some witty old scientists thinks to name one of the giant machines "Suburban" and another "Escalade."

[Conspiracy Guy]

No it's not I did some research. It's Cheney's fault this time. W asked Cheney to fix this in Feb 2001 and he kind of forgot.

[wbill]

wasn't there a classical pianist who used to do that....

That would be neat. I have pianist envy.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Reminds me of the 12 inch piano player and the genie that was hard of hearing.

[wbill]

I always thought it was the guy at the bar with the 12-inch-tall person sitting on his shoulder. The midget kept kicking over everyone's drinks......