Earth's magnetic poles

[nohorn]

According to info on internet, the magnet poles of the earth are in the process of shifting? a?s they have done before in the earth's past. As they are changing slowly over hundreds or thousands of years, how will any change affect life on the planet, such as biological processes? Doesn't life, our bodies, and so forth have electrial charges in them such as the brain. I have enough problem thinking as it is without any interferences. Will anything feel the effect?

[jake-the-peg]

The Earth's magnetic force is very weak compared to many of the things around you.

Think of how a child's magnet can overpower the Earth's magnetic field in influencing a compass.

Then think of how much stronger things like electromagnets are that pick up cars not to mention the incredible strength of magnets in brain scanners.

However the Earth's magnetic field does play a big part in shielding us from solar radiation so if the Earths magnetic field does switch we are likely to be 50 years or so without much shielding and that would affect our technology and increase our radiation exposure.

[beso]

The magnetic poles are constantly in motion. Sometimes it is slow but sometimes it happens very rapidly and they actually swap over a few thousand years. New but still controversial research suggests they can swap even more rapidly than previously believed.

Seach the net for stuff on the magnetic poles and you will find it a fascinating subject.

Our biggest worry when the field collapses and reverses is that our ionosphere also collapses allowing in dangerous radiation. The direct interaction with the field itself will be trivial by comparison.

However it will certainly give some birds a confusing picture of the planet as they have quite a strong magnetic sense.

[nohorn]

Thanks Jake & Beso, interesting stuff.