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Sun expected to 'flip upside down' as magnetic field reverses its polarity

You , uh, did see the bit about how this happens every 11 years, right?

I know the Sun flips polarity every 11 years. I didn't know it in 2002 though. Didn't feel anything special back then. :)
 
You know the earth's magnetic field is doing the exact same thing right now don't you?

No, read the article. It says that Earth's poles haven't changed for 800 000 years unlike the Sun's.
 
No, read the article. It says that Earth's poles haven't changed for 800 000 years unlike the Sun's.

Magnetic north shifting by 40 miles a year, might signal pole reversal | MNN - Mother Nature Network

The magnetic north pole is currently shifting at a faster rate than at any time in human history — almost 40 miles a year — and some experts believe that it may be the beginning of a complete pole reversal, according to the Independent.

The changes are beginning to cause major problems for aviation, navigation and migratory animals that use the Earth's magnetic field to orient themselves. Some airports have had to change the names of their runways to better correspond to their current direction relative to magnetic north.

Ever since the magnetic north pole was first discovered in 1831, geologists have been tracking its progress. Unlike true north (which is marked by the Earth's axis), magnetic north is constantly on the move due to changes in the planet's molten core, which contains iron. Throughout most of recorded history, the pole has been positioned at or around Canada's icy Ellesmere Island, but if it keeps moving at its current rate, it won't be long before it sits above Russia instead.
 
Magnetic north shifting by 40 miles a year, might signal pole reversal | MNN - Mother Nature Network

The magnetic north pole is currently shifting at a faster rate than at any time in human history — almost 40 miles a year — and some experts believe that it may be the beginning of a complete pole reversal, according to the Independent.

The changes are beginning to cause major problems for aviation, navigation and migratory animals that use the Earth's magnetic field to orient themselves. Some airports have had to change the names of their runways to better correspond to their current direction relative to magnetic north.

Ever since the magnetic north pole was first discovered in 1831, geologists have been tracking its progress. Unlike true north (which is marked by the Earth's axis), magnetic north is constantly on the move due to changes in the planet's molten core, which contains iron. Throughout most of recorded history, the pole has been positioned at or around Canada's icy Ellesmere Island, but if it keeps moving at its current rate, it won't be long before it sits above Russia instead.

When it finally makes it to St. Croix I'll man up and make my expedition to the North Pole.
 


You know the scouts motto, "Be prepared". :cool:
An good look to the survivors. :) I intend to have a little rest... in peace. :lol:
 
The Sun reverses it's polarity every 11 years. It's nothing really. The magnetic field drops to zero, then ramps up with the opposite polarity. It happens just like clockwork.

The solar magnetic field reversal is not the problem. The problem could be the solar flares that might emerge from this 11 year cycle. If a 1859-year-like flare hits us, our civilization will not stand.
 
The solar magnetic field reversal is not the problem. The problem could be the solar flares that might emerge from this 11 year cycle. If a 1859-year-like flare hits us, our civilization will not stand.

Did it stand in 1859?
 
The solar magnetic field reversal is not the problem. The problem could be the solar flares that might emerge from this 11 year cycle. If a 1859-year-like flare hits us, our civilization will not stand.

Oh My God!

I need enough tinfoil to wrap the entire house!!

Where is Batkid when we need him!?
 
Did it stand in 1859?

Actually, it stood in 1859, but they did not have the technology we have today. An event like 1859 would fry our technology, and that would be a pain in the ass. But an event like that, known as a coronal mass ejection, and can happen anytime, not just when the sun reverses polarity. 1859 was a huge CME. We could eventually get another one just like it, and the odds are we probably will, but I'm not going to hide in my closet over it. LOL.
 
Has it happened yet? I've been in my microwave all day long.
 
Actually, it stood in 1859, but they did not have the technology we have today. An event like 1859 would fry our technology, and that would be a pain in the ass. But an event like that, known as a coronal mass ejection, and can happen anytime, not just when the sun reverses polarity. 1859 was a huge CME. We could eventually get another one just like it, and the odds are we probably will, but I'm not going to hide in my closet over it. LOL.

Since I have been alive the suns polarity has shifted at least 3 times. Just since I've been alive. During this time we have had the same basic technology then as we do now. At least 1 of them with the same level of technology. And in that whole time not once has our civilization suffered even the slightest hicup due to a polarity change in the sun which sends a solar flare big enough.
 
Since I have been alive the suns polarity has shifted at least 3 times. Just since I've been alive. During this time we have had the same basic technology then as we do now. At least 1 of them with the same level of technology. And in that whole time not once has our civilization suffered even the slightest hicup due to a polarity change in the sun which sends a solar flare big enough.

A coronal mass ejection (CME) is not really related to the sun's poles shifting. A CME can happen at any time. The CME of 1859 fried telegraph wires, and telegraph is pretty primitive stuff, compared to the electronics we have today. A direct hit from a CME of that magnitude today would cause huge disruptions in telephone, satellite TV, and a good portion of our electronics. The electronics of some automobiles would even be fried. It would not be trivial. It would be one hell of a pain in the ass. However, it's not the kill shot that the OP is alluding to. We would recover, but that would take a few years.

NOTE: If a CME managed to kill off TV and video games for a while, that just might be classified as a benefit. People might actually start reading books again. LOL.
 
Just get a bunch of duct tape and you'll be fine.
 
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