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Old 12-December-2005, 08:21 PM
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Default Northern Lights on the Move

SUMMARY: For more than 400 years, the Earth's magnetic North pole was in a roughly stable position, but now it's on the move, having drifted nearly 1,100 km (680 miles) in the last century. At this rate, it'll move out of Canada, and into Siberia in the next 50 years. If that happens, Alaska and Northern Canada may lose the beautiful Northern Lights, which are caused by the interaction of the magnetic pole and the solar wind. It could be that this is a normal oscillation of the magnetic pole, or it might be that the Earth's magnetic poles are getting ready to flip.

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Old 12-December-2005, 11:50 PM
400poundgorilla 400poundgorilla is offline
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So what happens if the Poles DO reverse? According to the article the last time that happened was some 780,000 years ago... What would the effects on the human population be? Would we be exposed to solar radiation that could kill many people? Does it gradually move and only cause minor inconveniences? Do we get another bad movie like "The Core"?
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Old 13-December-2005, 09:30 AM
Eric Vaxxine Eric Vaxxine is offline
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I watched a TV programme about it recently..but...nodded off during the final commercial break and missed the answer to that question. They are seeing more flux travelling North to South than usual (if flux is the right word). The signs are that a flip is coming.
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Old 13-December-2005, 06:07 PM
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Wolverine Wolverine is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 400poundgorilla
So what happens if the Poles DO reverse? According to the article the last time that happened was some 780,000 years ago... What would the effects on the human population be? Would we be exposed to solar radiation that could kill many people?
These two articles should offer some insight:
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Old 14-December-2005, 10:23 AM
Eric Vaxxine Eric Vaxxine is offline
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Thanks Wolverine.
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