Scientists are baffled by the unprecedented speed at which the Earth's magnetic north pole is moving towards Siberia.
The pole's acceleration from 6.2 miles per year to 34 miles per year since 2000 has led to the scientific community going on alert.
The Earth's magnetic field has weakened by 10% since measurements started 170 years ago, another indication that a polarity reversal might have already started.
Ciaran Beggan from the British Geological Survey (BGS) said, “The movement since the 1990s is much faster than at any time for at least four centuries. We really don’t know much about the changes in the core that’s driving it.”
The shift in the Earth's magnetic north is calculated using the World Magnetic Model (WMM), which is used for mapping compasses, GPS, NASA, FAA, military navigation systems and more. However, due to the unprecedented speed of the shift, the model has come a year ahead of schedule for updating.
The potential pole shift could have serious implications for humanity. Scientists believe that the Earth's protective shield which minimizes solar and cosmic rays will weaken to one-tenth of its ability, leading to a likely worldwide blackout.
The timing systems in orbiting satellites that control electric grids could suffer damage, potentially leading to blackouts that last for decades. GPS technology, AI, autonomous vehicles and household appliances are also at risk.
Migratory animals such as whales, butterflies, and birds could also be affected.
Despite the widespread panic that a global blackout would cause, governments and researchers can prepare with action plans.
It is critical to design technologies to withstand such events and prepare communities to survive what is an inevitable event.
Whether the poles flip tomorrow or thousands of years from now, infrastructure must be designed with this in mind.
The Earth's poles have been flipping for millions of years and will continue to do so into the future. All we can do is educate ourselves and prepare.
The pole's acceleration from 6.2 miles per year to 34 miles per year since 2000 has led to the scientific community going on alert.
The Earth's magnetic field has weakened by 10% since measurements started 170 years ago, another indication that a polarity reversal might have already started.
Ciaran Beggan from the British Geological Survey (BGS) said, “The movement since the 1990s is much faster than at any time for at least four centuries. We really don’t know much about the changes in the core that’s driving it.”
The shift in the Earth's magnetic north is calculated using the World Magnetic Model (WMM), which is used for mapping compasses, GPS, NASA, FAA, military navigation systems and more. However, due to the unprecedented speed of the shift, the model has come a year ahead of schedule for updating.
The potential pole shift could have serious implications for humanity. Scientists believe that the Earth's protective shield which minimizes solar and cosmic rays will weaken to one-tenth of its ability, leading to a likely worldwide blackout.
The timing systems in orbiting satellites that control electric grids could suffer damage, potentially leading to blackouts that last for decades. GPS technology, AI, autonomous vehicles and household appliances are also at risk.
Migratory animals such as whales, butterflies, and birds could also be affected.
Despite the widespread panic that a global blackout would cause, governments and researchers can prepare with action plans.
It is critical to design technologies to withstand such events and prepare communities to survive what is an inevitable event.
Whether the poles flip tomorrow or thousands of years from now, infrastructure must be designed with this in mind.
The Earth's poles have been flipping for millions of years and will continue to do so into the future. All we can do is educate ourselves and prepare.
