I have heard that there are signs that the magnetic field north to south are getting more eratic and could cha
452277
Earth's magnetic field constantly fluctuates to some degree (it's weakened by about 10% since the 19th Century), but the majority of geophysicists see no hard evidence that the field is about to reverse like it's done in the past.\n\nEven should it reverse, the whole cycle takes thousands of years, and still would have little effect on our electrical power systems. Nor would planes fall from the sky, although reliance on magnetic compasses would have to be adjusted.\n\nGod should be spelled B-I-G B-A-N-G\nPBrax@netscape.com
311306
It's the variation between the magnetic north pole and the geographic north pole.  It varies depending on your location.
698855
The directional North pole of the earth is a magnetic south pole, this is because the north end of a compass points north, and opposites attract, therefore north is...south.\n\nMagnetic lines go from south to north i think, sorry havn't taken electricity/mag class in so long...\n\nanyways, if my thining is correct than it would point towards the directional south\n\ni'd choose "down"
126028
Currently, the earth's north magnetic pole moves about 40 kilometers per year.  The rate has varied considerably; it was only 10 km per year a century ago.
300354
There was a report on Discovery that Earth maginetic field is shifting.this shift of poles will take thousand of years so there is no sudden change.During this change magnetic field will completely stop and there will be no defense againest solar radiation.This will cause cancer to human biengs.\nthere is a movie,"The Core" in which they shown the after effects of eliminated magnet field.
317090
Yes, it's moving and every now and then (like, millions of years) it reverses direction. The North Pole goes South and viceversa.\nBut I'm sure that has nothing to do with your coffee creamer!!!
804022
I think that many signs indicate a brave new world just ahead for humanity.  I am seeing an increase in tolerance and acceptance with the internet providing ways for citizens of different cultures to connect one-on-one, combined with what I believe is an increase in spirit and psychic sensitivity (particularly in this next generation of kids) that is very often coupled with compromised health caused by environmental pollutants (like aluminum, mercury, etc.).\n\nWe are on the brink of an evolutionary change now - largely self created, as more and more people are suffering ill-effects from our own environmental toxins, but they are getting a trade off of heightened awareness, due to the extra heavy metals and such trapped in their system, perhaps.  It's an amazing time to be alive.\n\nPeace!\n\nPS - oh yes, I think our life spans are still expanding since the kids in the high school year books continue to look younger and younger than the generation before it.
1122646
NO!  Normally yes, but right up near the MAGNETIC north OR the magnetic South, it varies.\n\nIf you are between the true north and the magnetic North, the end of the other needle can spin or point to the true North.
1180853
Yes, but probably not quite so dramatically or quickly as in the film. I believe that it has already started & that is why some areas have had vastly diferent weather from usual for the past few years.
89051
On average, about once every 250,000 years or so Earth's two magnetic poles switch---the north magnetic pole becomes the south magnetic pole, and the south magnetic pole becomes the north magnetic pole. This means, among many other things, that compasses would all point south instead of north.\n\nScience knows that these pole reversals do happen. Some ancient rocks tell the story. In the far distant past these rocks were molten. At those times their interior materials would align themselves to Earth's magnetic field, much the way an electromagnet will. Careful analysis shows that the magnetic lines of force imbedded in these rocks often were directly opposite to Earth's present magnetic field.\n\nThe last pole reversal happened some 700,000 years ago, so we're sort of overdue for another one.
513594
No, the magnetic poles are off from the geographic poles by several miles (perhaps even hundreds of miles, I don't recall exactly how much).
156061
Yes this is true. We know that this happens because of our recent observation but also because crystal formation in rocks shows us that in the past it has switched... Ya strange pockets of magnetic wierdness appear from time to time too(geologially speaking so like over 100,000 years) It all happens really slowly on human time scales but it can (in theory) happen pretty quick. Like over 100's of years. There are plenty of folks watching and taking note. Fortunately, those scientists in the know — paleomagnetists, to be exact — have a ready answer. There is even a really great computer model that they run to test all the variables and options... If it happend over night we'd be in trouble for sure... but it doesn't.
1037951
there r signs by which you can tell
576113
This is possible because when electric field decreases throught crossing empty space,it creates a magnetic field, and in turn the changing magnetic field creates an another electric field. It is this mutual feedback which results in the propagation of an electromagnetic wave.
273730
Seems like the biggest question would be the resulting effect on the Earth's magnetic field which shields us from the sun's solar wind.
346576
Nope. \nThere is some evidence that people can sense the magnetic field of the earth and tell which way magnetic north is. But as for true north no one can do that without knowing the magnetic variation for the location they are at.\nWell if you know the time of year and about where you are you could tell true north from the stars but that would be about the same as knowing the magnetic variation for your location.
599806
I like the guy who quoted but had no idea what he quoted.  :-)\n\nWhat it means is the sun has a very stong magnetic field, much stronger than the earth's. But where the earth rotates as a solid body, the sun does not. Some parts rotate at different speeds. The magnetic lines get wound up --- like a rubber band. Sunspots are where these magnetic lines break through. They come in pairs. If you could visit the surface of the sun with a compass, one of the pair would appear as a north pole while the other attracted the south indicator of your compass.\n\nThe magnetic field is strong enough to change the flow of material on the sun. The outer third of the sun transfers heat by convection. It is similar to a pot of boiling water on your stove top. If you see a closeup of the surface in Hydrogen alpha light, you will see granules. Those are like giant cells bubbling up --- just like the boiling water on your stove --- but on a much larger scale.\n\nThe heat is not able to "boil" up around the magnetic field. So less heat is carred up to that area. Because it is not as hot as the surrounding area, it appears darker. It is still very bright, but it appears dark by contrast with the hotter areas surrounding it. That dark area is the sunspot we see.\n\nThey last from a few days to several weeks. At times the magnetic field forms a bubble which breaks out and sends a "coronal mass ejection" into space. If it is aimed at earth, we have a large aurora display.\n\nIf you enjoy astronomy, try \nhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing\n\nChuck