The implications of a geomagnetic process such as pole reversal may sound a little ominous, but don't worry: scientists aren't sure when the next turn will occur. Even if it happens, the risks will not be too high.
Observations of scientists
Scientists have discovered that large gaps have begun to form in the magnetic field, which signals that the earth's magnetic poles will soon swap places. There is an assumption that such a process will have an extremely negative impact on nature, and our planet will undergo powerful cataclysms. This is the conclusion reached by Danish researchers at the Center for Planetary Research. Scientists from America, France and England share their opinion.
Scientific research shows that over the past centuries, the density of the Earth's magnetic field has decreased. This process manifested itself in 1989 in Canada. Solar winds penetrated the weak magnetic layer and caused electrical grid breakdown. Quebec was without electricity for 9 hours.
It is believed that the magnetic field is accumulated by streams of molten iron that surrounds the planet's core. A Danish satellite has recorded a vortex in these streams, which could cause a pole reversal. But scientists are confident that this will not happen in the near future.
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A magnetic field
The iron-enriched outer layer of the Earth's core gradually cools down, it breaks through colossal convection currents, which are also somewhat distorted by the Earth's own rotation. Thanks to a quirk of physics known as dynamo theory, this creates a powerful magnetic field between the north and south poles.
Although 99% of the magnetic energy remains in the core, the waves that travel into space provoke a potentially dangerous solar wind.
Magnetic poles are areas in which a planet's magnetic field is vertical, at which point the compass needle points up.
Throughout geological time, the magnetic poles have moved aside. This phenomenon is known as “geomagnetic reversal”. Although there are several hypotheses that try to explain this process, geophysicists are still not sure why this is happening. It is obvious that the process is associated with turbulence and chaos inside the metallic outer core, but the specificity of the phenomenon has not been clarified.
Last offset
In any case, the last complete reversal occurred about 781,000 years ago. This process was named Bruns-Matuyama after the discoverers. Its path can be traced through volcanic rocks, which, after their formation, managed to freeze the planet's magnetic field in place. Up to this point, the modern magnetic North Pole was located at the site of the South Pole, and their location changed.
In any case, over the past 20 million years, the poles have changed positions once every 20,000-30,000 years. Mars lost most of its atmosphere when its magnetic field collapsed. However, we are not in danger.
The risks won't be high
NASA is working hard to emphasize that the Earth's pole reversal is the norm, not the exception. It has always happened and will continue to happen. The last displacement was observed 20,000 years ago.
Even if the shift is approaching, it will not happen overnight. "The magnetic field data suggests that the reversal takes about 1000-5000 years or so," Associate Professor Phil Livermore, an expert on the Earth's geomagnetic field at the University of Leeds, told IFSIcience.
Another problem is that the average over 20,000 years has not yet been determined, and the process of pole reversal has not been observed throughout the entire history of the Earth.
Although the dipole strength is currently decreasing, it is not abnormal. Previous episodes of decay did not result in a reversal, but simply a flex in the field strength over time.
"Reversing or general weakening of the planet's magnetic field does pose some potential threats, especially if it reaches only 10% of its full strength before re-establishing itself," Livermore says.
However, the risks probably won't be high. It is known from the fossil record that the life of plants and animals has never been disturbed. NASA has not seen noticeable changes in geological activity, be it seismic, volcanic or glacial. The rotation of the Earth remained unchanged.
“The main problem is what can happen to our electrical infrastructure - satellites, power grids, etc.,” Livermore said.
The power supply will be interrupted
Satellites within the South Atlantic are a noticeable weak point in the magnetic field. It is already at high risk of damage.
What will be the consequences? The damage is dependent on space weather. This could lead to several large, prolonged power outages on Earth.
However, biological life is likely to remain intact. Animals that rely on the magnet's reception for orientation will be a little puzzled for a while. So don't worry. There is a lot of uncertainty in this issue, but the apocalypse will certainly not happen.
Maya Muzashvili
