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Originally Posted by Xeion
[...] it's when the magnetic poles begin to switch or swap if you will,[...]
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And, during that slow process, it's not like the magentosphere goes away, or is neutralized somehow. Instead it's like the two dominant poles become several and then many and several and finally two again.
NASA Feature: Earth's Inconstant Magnetic Field
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Reversals take a few thousand years to complete, and during that time--contrary to popular belief--the magnetic field does not vanish. "It just gets more complicated," says Glatzmaier. Magnetic lines of force near Earth's surface become twisted and tangled, and magnetic poles pop up in unaccustomed places. A south magnetic pole might emerge over Africa, for instance, or a north pole over Tahiti. Weird. But it's still a planetary magnetic field, and it still protects us from space radiation and solar storms.
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