We hear doomsday warnings that refer to "magnetic pole reversal" and natural disasters in the same breath. With 2012 end-of-world fears and hype, the truth is that magnetic pole reversal is not a myth and it could be happening as we speak. According to an article on LiveScience, we really may be in the middle of a pole shift, but what exactly does that mean?
What is the makeup of the Earth?
Remember grade school science when you learned about the makeup of the Earth? There are three basic parts of the Earth -- a core, a mantle and a crust. Sure there are other layers within each part with big names but you don't need to worry about those in order to understand what's going on. The core is made up of a solid inner core and a super hot liquid outer core. The liquid outer core is made of iron and the flow of this liquid core is what creates the magnetic field around our Earth.
What creates pole reversal?
When some iron atoms in the outer core become reverse-aligned (an article from LiveScience likens it to "tiny magnets oriented in the opposite direction from those around them") it can lead to increasingly larger patches of iron atoms reverse-aligning within the outer core. When the reverse-aligned patches take over, pole reversal occurs.
How can pole reversal cause disasters?
First, it is important to understand that magnetic pole reversal doesn't just suddenly happen. It is a process that can take as long as 1,000 to 10,000 years. No need to mark "pole reversal" on your calendar anytime this year. Some experts believe we are in the midst of a pole reversal but that we may be just 100 plus years into the process, so no need to get in a rush and panic.
The process of pole reversal creates a weakening in the Earth's magnetic field will not have the disastrous effects that we see in movies -- massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and disaster on every corner. Instead, the most noticeable disaster caused by a pole shift -- or more accurately the weakening of the geomagnetic field during the process of reversal -- would be more along the lines of technology interruptions and losses. This would occur due to the weakening of the magnetic field which normally shields some of the effects of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun. The results could be power grid interruptions, communication blackouts and the like.
Interruptions to the power grids, communications and computer-driven functions within our society could be affected and wreak more havoc than imagined.
For thought...
Are you worried about magnetic pole shift? How about the hype over 2012 doomsday and disaster prophecies? Preparation for any natural disaster or emergency are always important but is there any way to prepare for doomsday?
In southern Illinois, a massive power outage could cause serious infrastructure malfunction. Power outages could lead to loss of water services for most residents living in the area who are served by electric-pump driven water. A major ice storm that hit extreme southern Illinois in February 2009 and derecho that blew threw Williamson county and other adjoining counties in May of that year caused major disruction due to power outages. Loss of power during those emergency situations means that local stores were unable to sell goods because electricity and computers were necessary for transactions. Cash was the only currency that worked during those emergencies.
In rural areas, loss of electricity and communication would require that residents be able to take care of themselves for an extended period of time without outside assistance. Preparing for an extended blackout would be prudent, whether a pole shift occurs or not.
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