Compass needles are shifting: why scientists are concerned about the Earth's magnetic pole reversal.

WHERE, WHERE HAVE YOU GONE?

The directions indicated by the compass needles – blue and red – are shifting. This is due to the movement of the Earth's magnetic poles. The exact reason for this is unknown, as is what specifically generates the geomagnetic field. It's likely related to the movement of our planet's metallic core. Perhaps the Sun plays a role, or it could be something else. There is no complete clarity.

In a state of relative uncertainty, geophysicists refrain from accurately predicting the future locations of the magnetic poles, but they do track their movement on maps. Data is updated every five years. The coordinates of the current locations – for the past and, presumably, the current year – were recently reported by experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the British Geological Survey (BGS).

According to scientists, the movement of the magnetic poles – particularly the North Pole – astonishes and frightens them. In the Middle Ages, it moved slowly across a relatively small area in Canada. In 1904, it suddenly "bolted" toward Russia, occasionally accelerating up to four times – reaching 60 kilometers per year. Five years ago, the speed initially dropped to 50 kilometers per year, and then to 35.

If the pole continues to move at the current pace and in the same direction, it will eventually reach Siberia. But that's still far off. The North Magnetic Pole will remain in the Arctic Ocean for quite some time.

According to NOAA, by 2025, the North Magnetic Pole will be located at coordinates of 86 degrees north latitude and 138 degrees east longitude, having shifted almost 4 degrees towards us.

The trajectory of the North Magnetic Pole's movement. It is heading toward Siberia. But it is still a long way off.

The South Magnetic Pole has also not remained stationary, but has moved more smoothly. It has now left Antarctica and entered the Southern Ocean.

0

The South Magnetic Pole has entered the ocean.

Over the past 200 years, the Earth's magnetic field has weakened by about 15 percent and continues to weaken. This is evidenced by measurements taken using the Swarm satellites of the European Space Agency.

Visible proof that the intensity of the geomagnetic field is decreasing can be seen in the northern lights. They occur as a result of the interaction between this field and streams of charged particles ejected by solar flares. Particles have become more capable of penetrating into lower latitudes, resulting in vibrant displays in the sky.

The increasing frequency of magnetic storms also indicates that the planet's magnetism is not what it used to be. Even weak solar flares now provoke magnetic storms, causing those sensitive to the weather to react more strongly.

1

If the North Magnetic Pole does not stabilize soon, it will be even closer to Russia in five years.

Additionally, there are now areas on Earth where the geomagnetic field is significantly weaker than outside. One such area is the South Atlantic Anomaly, identified in 2011, covering nearly 8 million square kilometers.

Some scientists view these observations as alarming signs that, collectively or individually, could herald a global catastrophe.

THIS TERRIFYING WORD INVERSION

Concerned geophysicists, such as those from the University of Rochester in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Colorado, Boulder, warn that the Earth's magnetic pole reversal is approaching. The so-called geomagnetic inversion is an event after which the South Magnetic Pole becomes the North and vice versa.

2

During an inversion, the Earth will have multiple magnetic poles, and the geomagnetic field will weaken.

It may seem trivial that the compass needle will point red instead of blue toward the North. However, experts explain that the main danger lies not in the result of the "polarity flip," but in the process itself. It is not instantaneous. Some estimates suggest it could take hundreds, or even thousands of years.

It is highly likely that during the polarity switching process, the intensity of the geomagnetic field will drastically decrease. For a time, the Earth may "bristle" with dozens of magnetic poles. This is the best-case scenario. In the worst case, the field could disappear entirely, stripping the Earth of its magnetosphere – the protective shield that safeguards life from harmful cosmic and solar radiation. Life cannot endure long without such a "umbrella." Not to mention that civilization, with its electric networks, would quickly "burn out" even after modest solar flares.

EVERYTHING THAT WAS NOT WITH ME, I REMEMBER

Scientists who believe that inversion is a genuine phenomenon, having repeatedly occurred in our planet's history, refer to ancient rock formations, deposits of solidified lava, and stalactites. Naturally magnetized, these objects are thought to "remember" the magnitude and direction of the geomagnetic field that existed during their formation.

By studying numerous samples of varying ages, scientists accepting the idea of inversion have determined when the direction of the geomagnetic field matched the current one and when it was directly opposite. However, a universal "magneto-chronological scale" has yet to be established. Some researchers observed one periodicity in inversions, others noted a different one, while some felt that there was no periodicity at all. It's sheer chaos. Hence, the wide range of predictions. Some promise an inversion "tomorrow," others in 2,000 years, some in 200,000 years, and others in as long as 25 million years.

Some researchers even offer reassurance: all data regarding previous inversions is indirect. Therefore, it is not a fact that they actually occurred. Thus, there is no reason to expect anything similar. After all, rocks and other stalactites could have been magnetized in the opposite direction without global inversions. All so-called anomalies are mere echoes of complex natural processes occurring within the Earth's depths.

By the way, the end of the world due to "polarity flipping" was anticipated back in 2012. Some conspiracy theorists speculated that perhaps the Mayans, while creating their "prophetic calendar," intended to refer to this event? But they were mistaken.

BY THE WAY

Neanderthals went extinct during a shift in the Earth's magnetic poles

The inversion of the Earth's magnetic field has particularly alarmed a large international team of scientists from Australia, the UK, Germany, New Zealand, the USA, Switzerland, Sweden, China, and Russia – a total of 32 individuals who co-signed an article in the journal Science. They reported that it was this inversion, which occurred 42,000 years ago, that led to the extinction of the Neanderthals. In historical terms, that was quite recent.

Researchers determined that the magnetic pole shift occurred, and the process lasted approximately 1,500 years. As a result, the geomagnetic field weakened to a level that was 28 percent of normal. It remained at such a low level for over 800 years, rendering the "protective umbrella" ineffective. The climate also deteriorated significantly.

Evidence of increased cosmic bombardment, which also contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer at all latitudes, was found in a fossilized kauri tree (Agathis australis) discovered in a New Zealand swamp in 2019. This tree was alive during that distant time, and its annual rings literally absorbed an elevated amount of the isotope carbon-14, formed under the influence of cosmic radiation.

The excessive radiation led to the extinction of many fauna representatives of that era, including large Australian creatures and European mammoths. They went extinct. Humans also suffered – our close relatives, the Neanderthals, reportedly began hiding in caves, applying ochre to their skin for protection against harmful cosmic and solar radiation that severely burned them. But it didn't help – they went extinct anyway. This occurred around 42,000 years ago.

Last year, with reference to the same time period, similar results were presented by scientists from the German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam (Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam - Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ), who discovered elevated levels of the radionuclide beryllium-10 in ice cores and marine sediments. This indicated increased cosmic ray influx hitting the Earth due to the weakened intensity of the