Posted on 07/17/2010 12:27:04 AM PDT by OldDeckHand
(CNN) -- An upper layer of Earth's atmosphere recently shrank so much that researchers are at a loss to adequately explain it, NASA said on Thursday.
The thermosphere, which blocks harmful ultraviolet rays, expands and contracts regularly due to the sun's activities. As carbon dioxide increases, it has a cooling effect at such high altitudes, which also contributes to the contraction.
But even these two factors aren't fully explaining the extraordinary contraction which, though unlikely to affect the weather, can affect the movement of satellites, researchers said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Here is the link to the site and a cut and paste. Please read the entire site, not just the “Daily Movement” page.
I don’t know how to copy the graphic, but that is where the 85 k figure came from.
Hope this helps... there is much more to this. I have been monitoring this topic and researching it for 20 years.
http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/geomag/nmp/daily_mvt_nmp_e.php
Geological Survey of Canada
Geomagnetism
Daily Movement of the North Magnetic Pole
It is important to realize that the position of the North Magnetic Pole given for a particular year is an average position. The Magnetic Pole wanders daily around this average position and, on days when the magnetic field is disturbed, may be displaced by 80 km or more. Although the North Magnetic Pole’s motion on any given day is irregular, the average path forms a well-defined oval. The diagram shows the average path on disturbed days.
The cause of the North Magnetic Pole’s diurnal motion is quite different than that of its secular motion. If we measure the Earth’s magnetic field continually, such as is done at a magnetic observatory, we will see that it changes during the course of a day - sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly. The ultimate cause of these fluctuations is the Sun. The Sun constantly emits charged particles that, on encountering the Earth’s magnetic field, cause electric currents to flow in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. These electric currents disturb the magnetic field, resulting in a temporary shift in the North Magnetic Pole’s position. The size and direction of this shift varies with time, in step with the magnetic field fluctuations. Since such fluctuations occur constantly, the Magnetic Pole is seldom to be found at its “official” position, which is the position in the absence of magnetic field fluctuations.
According to an article I read at Spaceweather.com, NASA’a solar research site for the public, the extremely deep Solar Minimus we have just experienced is the cause for the “shrinkage” of the outer layers of our atmosphere. This analysis was published over six months ago in an article that discussed how much new information they were learning observing a Solar Minimus for the first time with modern technology like SOHO and STEREO, NASA’a two solar research satellites.
Apparently the evidence that the absence of solar activity was having a profound effect on our atmosphere is too close to an admission of the Sun’s effect on our planet for the Anthropogenic Global Warming crowd, and their original analysis has been quashed by their corrupt superiors at NASA.
PF
LOL!
That’s the image that popped into my head as soon as I saw the word “shrinkage”!
I think it was November 2008 when NASA first identified a reverse polarity sun spot, signaling the beginning of the increase toward the next solar maximum. Remember, this was one of the quietest solar minimums on record.
I find it interesting that the plot of the sun spot activity from each of the past dozen or so solar maximums resembles the shape of a butterfly. Each solar maximum butterfly plot, (as represented by plot of the intensity of the sun’s activity) has increased in size.
Sometime if you have the time, go to the NASA web site and read out how the sun reverses polarity every solar cycle and the earth reverses polarity as well. The research data and scientific proof are all there. It’s interesting that the current bandwidth (representing the current polarity of earth) is already wider than most, representing that we are overdue for a polarity reversal and earth axis pole shift.
Remember, we are talking thousands of years between pole shifts so I’m not saying it will happen soon.
Spaceweather is an excellent site. I read it daily. Especially good are the readings from the SOHO which is monitoring the sun.
It gives daily solar wind speed and density data.
Magnetic field reversals
The Earth’s magnetic field is aligned roughly along the spin axis and has an approximate dipole shape, similar to that of a bar magnet, with north and south magnetic poles. This is the normal state of affairs, but occasionally the magnetic field switches polarity, the north and south magnetic poles reverse, and the field settles down in the opposite state. The process goes by several names – “magnetic field reversal” and “polarity transition” are the most common.
Reversals have been documented as far back as 330 million years. During that time more than 400 reversals have taken place, one roughly every 700,000 years on average. However, the time between reversals is not constant, varying from less than 100,000 years, to tens of millions of years. In recent geological times reversals have been occurring on average once every 200,000 years, but the last reversal occurred 780,000 years ago. At that time the magnetic field underwent a transition from a “reversed” state to its present “normal state”.
This is much better and I Bookmarked it ;-)
Excuse me if this is a stupid question but what would it mean for humans, civilization in general if the poles were to reverse?
“Brown is the new Black”
Brown shoes don’t make it
Brown Shoes don’t make it
Quit school, why fake it
Brown shoes don’t make it
My Weather Rock knows more about the “shrinkage” than NASA does.
If NASA was less busy with muslimes relationships, they would know that shrinkage is all related to sunspot activity. We were and are in one of lowest and deepest minimum and that causes the shrinkage. If it is more pronounced then shrinkage will be more pronounced than what they know from the books. Duuuuuh!
Or are they asking for another biiiiilion of bucks to study and “prove” that it is Algore globullllsheeeet?
You’ll have to read all your maps upside down since your compasses will all point south.
Wow! Is that all? I was afraid I’d suddenly be living in Argentina and I would have to speak Spanish. So the only things will be the water circling the drain counter clockwise and the map thingy. I can deal with that!
That and we’ll start having winter in the summer.
As hot as it is in Houston right now the poles could switch today and I’d be happy. :[
Since you seem to know so much about poles and stuff, what if the they only switch half way? Like the north pole would be about Dallas? (Not that I wish anything bad to happen to Dallas,bless their hearts, but there is that rivalry) :}
If you remember, Dr. C. Little warned us about this some time ago.
Shhhhh..... If you told people how much the poles shift, and how much the field has been weakening, they might all poop their drawers.
Of course, with more solar activity it will strengthen, but that kind of news doesn't sell carbon credits.
Usually, it makes a complete 'roll'.
Evidence in the magnetic fields in ancient rocks confirm that it has happened before, and more than once.
We'd have to change all the LABELS on compasses. If you still have a CRT type TV you might want to unplug it for an hour, then plug it back in so it will degauss itself.
Other than that, there would just be a general panic of the public ,instilled by the MSM, much like the Y2K one.
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