Earth's Magnetic Poles About to Flip....

In the news this week, I read an article that was titled:

Africa PHENOMENON threatens to FLIP Earth's magnetic field, taking the poles with it

An artists conception of the Earth's magnetosphere. Courtesy of the Space Science Institute. Artwork by Steve Mercer.

So, I did some research. It is true that some Scientist believe that the earth's magnetic poles may be getting ready to flip. The earth's magnetic field is generated by the movement of liquid metal in the earth's core. Mars for example had a liquid core until the core cooled down and solidified. There is evidence that Mars had liquid water on the surface like Earth. Since the cooling of the Martian core, the magnetic field has weakened to the point that Mars is no longer protected by the sun's radiation. This lead to the stripping of the Martian atmosphere and a loss in the surface water. Not to worry though. Here on earth, we have enough radioactive material in our core to keep the Earth’s core hot and liquid for a very long geological time. Inside the earth’s core there is a solid center core spinning at a different speed and there are convection currents. These currents and rotating masses create storms (like a hurricane) inside the core that can merge and grow causing magnetic anomalies. It is believed that these storms can become large enough to enable a switch of the magnetic poles.

Here are some interesting facts about Earth's magnetic poles:

1. The magnetic poles are always moving and do not line up with geographic poles
2. The pole movement is speeding up
3. The poles are moving towards each other
4. Earth’s pole switches around 250,000 years
5. The magnetic field began weakening in 1600 and the rate of weakening is speeding up. Scientist believe that the weakening of the magnetic field is a sign of a pending magnetic pole reversal.
6. The magnetic field weakened 10% from the 1800s to 2000.
7. Last time the Earth’s poles switched was around 780,000 so Earth is statistically past due for another magnetic reversal.
8. Evidence suggests that magnetic pole reversal happens over a few thousand years with magnetic anomalies and fluctuations taking up a majority of that time period. The actual switch of the poles can occur in less than 100 years.
9. Earth’s magnetic poles have attempted to switch and snapped back.

Earth’s magnetic field helps shield us from damaging solar and cosmic radiation, and a reversal means Earth might be slightly less protected from harmful solar radiation for longer than we would like during the flip and during the magnetic anomalies.

During the time of weakened earth magnetic field, solar storms can cause havoc on electrical grids, devices, and communications networks. Satellites will be particularly vulnerable and could lead to failures. In addition, the earth’s ozone layer can be significantly damaged.

If signs of Earth magnetic pole reversal increase, we will just have to learn how to harden electronics and electrical grids to deal with the solar radiation. Sunbathing may become a thing of the past without some extra strength sunblock, but I doubt there would be reason to panic.