When do scientists predict there will be the next Polar Shift, and
what will be the total effect on the earth, environment, and mankind
be? What will we expect to have to deal with and are we likely to
survive? Thanks.

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Clarification of Question by ellieanita-ga on 27 Feb 2006 05:17 PST

The reason I asked the question was that I have heard that Polar
Shifts have happened in the past, and that we are, according to
scientists, overdue for a magnetic Polar shift (when the poles reverse
and North becomes South etc.)

Obviously a crust Polar shift will more than likely destroy life as we
know it today or wipe us all out. But after reading Clive Cussler's
book Polar Shift, I really wanted a non-hyped scientific (as accurate
as possible) account of what would happen to the earth if we have a
magnetic Polar Shift.

I hope I have made it a bit clearer.

Hello,

   I assume you refer to the idea that Earth literally turns itself
over, like someone standing on their head. What leads you to believe
that there's ever been such a pole shift to begine with? What leads
you to expect such a thing to even be possible, or at least even
probable enough to prompt one to fret? What makes you think that by
dangling $10 you can get someone to tell you "when" the next shift
will take place? Do you know what inertia is?

Are you talking about the earth itself flipping or the earth's
magnetic field flipping north for south?  There is evidence that the
earth's magnetic field has flipped more than once in the past.

Some books you could consult would be Charles Hapgood's 'The Path of
the Pole', and Rand Flem-Ath's 'When the Sky Fell'. These address what
will happen when the Pole Shift occurs, that is, based on Charles
Hapgood's Earth Crust Displacement theory. Basically they say, if the
pole shifts, disasters will happen all over the globe and humanity
will have to start from the "Sumerian age" again.

THANK YOU for all your above comments!

The reason I asked the question was that I have heard that Polar
Shifts have happened in the past, and that we are, according to
scientists, overdue for a magnetic Polar shift (when the poles reverse
and North becomes South etc.)

Obviously a crust Polar shift will more than likely destroy life as we
know it today or wipe us all out. But after reading Clive Cussler's
book Polar Shift, I really wanted a non-hyped scientific (as accurate
as possible) account of what would happen to the earth if we have a
magnetic Polar Shift.

I hope I have made it a bit clearer.

:o) Thanks for taking the time to post, this is interesting.

The Earth's magnetic field has reversed many times in the past, and I
believe that if you look at the averge time between reversals, we are
overdue.  However, the time between reversals is long (millions of
years) and varies a lot, so the fact that we are "overdue" may not
mean much.  Some scientists see evidence of the beginnings of a
reversal in the pattern of the Earth's magnetic field today, but since
a reversal takes place slowly over 10's-100's of thousand of years,
even if a reversal is beginning, it's not something that you (or even
your great-grandchildren) need to loose much sleep over.

The main problem caused by a magnetic pole reversal is that there is
believed to be a period of time when the Earth's magnetic field drops
to zero (or at least to a very low value).  Since the magnetic field
usually protects the Earth's surface from charged particles from the
Sun and outer space, when the field drops to near zero, the Earth's
surface will be exposed in increased radiation.  Exactly how serious
this will be, nobody knows.  Magnetic reversals in the past have not
been associated with mass extinctions, so it shouldn't be too
catestrophic, but it might get a little uncomfortable.  The main
effect might be to fry most of the satellites we have in orbit,
although since the change happens so slowly, we would have plenty of
time to launch satellites with better shielding.

Dear fstokens, 

That is a brilliant post and answers my question perfectly! 

Thank you so much for taking the time to type that "much appreciated"
reply, how kind. Now I have my answer I am not sure what to do.

How can I send you $10 via Paypal for you most helpful reply? 

Thanks, Ellie x

Ellie,

Arranging payment to registered users that are not authorized
Researchers is not allowed at GA, nor is posting contact information
such as you have suggested to fstokens, --so you have received an
answer for free! That's one of the cool benefits of using GA,
sometimes you get free answers...

fstokens, --If you post contact information here, this question will
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