[Proud_texan]

The magnetic poles will, someday, reverse. There is always a drift and recently it's accelerated. Some speculate this indicates an impending reversal. I haven't a clue. The following is from "straight dope" which has, as far as I can tell, a pretty good lay description.

Over the last century, both the north and south magnetic poles have been drifting north (that is, toward the geographic north pole, which itself wanders somewhat, but let's not make this more complicated than it already is). The north magnetic pole historically has moved at a rate of about ten kilometers per year, but has lately accelerated, heading toward Russia at four times that rate.

[Centurion2000]

so what are the effects of a pole reversal ?

[lilylangtree]

“the magnetic poles typically wander around slowly, but every so often flip completely, reversing the magnetic polarity of the planet.”

Thank you for the link. Now if I run across the scientist at the dinner I attended last week, I have some ammunition on “global warming.”