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September 29th, 2008, 09:54 GMT · By

Earth's Poles Are Shifting to New Coordinates

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Earth's enormous amount of magnetic lines
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Recent researches in our planet's lava flows seem to indicate that the North Pole is becoming weaker and weaker, as the magnetic field Earth generates is decreasing in intensity. According to the September 26 issue of the journal “Science,” secondary magnetic sources, other than the constant, turbulent flow of molten iron and rock beneath the ground, exist under the crust. Apparently, they can, at times, influence the magnetic field generated by our planet's poles, usually when the main “generators” are dwindling.

 

Such seems to be the case in recent times, as Brad Singer, a geology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has discovered that the streaming, molten iron core, which generates most of Earth's magnetic field capabilities, is currently becoming slower and weaker in its output. Apparently, Earth goes through this cycle at various intervals. The last all-time low registered by geologists was about 780,000 years ago, when the North and the South poles came dangerously close to shifting.

 

According to paleomagnetist Kenneth Hoffman, hardened lava from eruption sites in Germany and Tahiti may show us how Earth's magnetic field looked at various times throughout history. When molten rock swirls underneath Earth's crust, it orients metal particles inside towards certain stream lines, which determine the orientation of the magnetic lines, Hoffman explains. This means that, even after lava erupts and hardens, it still retains a sort of “memory” of its orientation while inside the crust.

 

Hoffman and Singer are currently trying to find out ways of determining when and how polar shift occurs. This is very important, because such a shift will have devastating effects on life as we know it. Communication breakdowns and ice ages are just two of the many catastrophic effects we should expect.

While analyzing the sites in Germany and Tahiti, geologists uncovered that, when the poles are weak, there is great potential for extreme anomalies on the globe, including massive storms, hurricanes, very high or subzero temperatures and so on. Though the next low in magnetic activities is still about 1,500 years away, scientists aim at being able to predict when a polar shift occurs and the possible implications it might have for humankind.


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Comment #1 by: Carl G on 07 Oct 2008, 16:17 UTC reply to this comment

I'm afraid that when Al Gore reads this article,
Professor Singer will be getting a call from Al and
read the riot act. Professor Singer needs to
conform a little more.


Comment #2 by: Proffesor Stienhoff Iowa state University on 27 Mar 2010, 00:19 UTC reply to this comment

the thoery is absoulutly logic,but why is it that in the year of 2010 we've already been expieriencing semi-cataclysmic events such as the Earthquake in haiti,the Tsunami that hit hawaii,and cyclons near Austrailia?In my 23 years of study people have asked questions as to why the Earth acts as the way it does,and i could'nt do anything but look them up and down and say "Only God knows.",well of course there are certain scientists who believe they can theorize or find a hypothisis that explains a reason why the Earth's mood changes often.Maybe it could be the greenhouse gases that are outreaching the O-zone layer,or maybe more and more convectin currents in the earths mantle is causing lithoshperic plates to split and move at unexpected,unnoticable rates.Then again they're only thoeries as to what would really happen.As much data as it is you record there is no possible way to so call "read the Earths mind" because if the planet has extreme amounts of rain fall during the season then by the very next day its more than 90'F with no percipitation what so ever,what were the odds of you thinking it wasnt going to rain the next day? As the magnetic fields change our minds about whether or not the resistance of our poles are the same change as well.More and more science will prove that no matter what it is you do you will not be able to reverse,change,shift,dismember,recreate or avoid anything that our planet has in store for us.What we need to do is not rely on science but rely on Earth itself,people nowadays dont always think about what the effects of depleting our atmosphere would be,instead they think about the money they have to make in order to feed their children,and what they are doing to make that money causes pollution or is just against all odds of our green Earth.If we start to think twice once in a while we will forget about greed and envy and start realizing that this planet is just as fragile as an infant and takes alot more to protect then anything else in the world.Less pollution,no greenhouse gases,0 climate change,solar energy and using no Fossile fuel is the key to Earth's survival.If we live the way we do now it will only be a matter of time before we start noticing Earth as it crumbles into nothing but devistation,not just at the poles but all over the world especially when it comes to fault lines and lithospheric plates.I would give it another 5 years for the Earth to whip up something that will be more than a turning point for our future and evolution of the Earths population as we know it.By the year 2012 we will open our eyes and notice how bad we're actually treating our beautiful planet,its ugly unatractive faze is starting to come out of its shell and this is only the beggining.Do as you must,don't follow misinterpitations that make everything seem okeay,it is not.

-Proffesor Dwight Petersmith Stienhoff of Iowa Sate University

Comment #2.1 by: Daimyo on 31 Jan 2012, 16:54 GMT

Easy to suggest measures that lead to extreme poverty after your wife and children are already experiencing great living conditions from America's 100 years of abusing fossil fuel... how about YOU start keeping the planet clean and I'll get started on keeping my kids hungry, then when I get to your level I'll start caring about the planet too..


Comment #3 by: buck on 05 Apr 2011, 00:51 UTC reply to this comment

what will happen too the birds and fish if the magnetic poles shifts ten or fifteen percent
I beleave this is why we are having all of the die offs we have been having

Comment #3.1 by: Tudor Vieru on 05 Apr 2011, 09:04 GMT

We've been having the die-offs because we are exploiting everything un-sustainably. Our actions are driving species to extinction, not the Earth's poles.

Comment #3.2 by: Emily on 19 Jan 2012, 01:33 GMT

They might die or they might swim away? Who Knows???


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