An international team of research worker has been studying stalagmites in China to serve them tail changes in the Earth ’s magnetic field . They lay claim that they have uncover evidence suggesting that pole reversal can happen over just a few centuries , and has done so in the past , a much inadequate timescale than previously thought possible .
As describe in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , the work indicates that around 100,000 eld ago , the magnetic playing field of our satellite experienced a period of instability with rapid and temporary summerset . The quickest of these hap in just 140 years .
“ The criminal record provides of import insights into ancient magnetic field behavior , which has turned out to variegate much more rapidly than previously thought , ” atomic number 27 - generator Professor Andrew Roberts , from the Australian National University , said in astatement .
Researchers exact that if this were to happen today , it might have a huge force on our fellowship . The magnetic field protect us from the solar farting and , in particular , geomagnetic violent storm . When the most powerful of these utmost issue happen , they are capable of penetrating the magnetic field and damaging our engineering .
“ Even with Earth ’s strong magnetic landing field today , we ’re still susceptible to solar storms that can damage our electricity - based society , ” Roberts explained .
The topic would develop if a major storm struck during a pole setback as this is when the magnetic field is at its weakest . This would wreak mayhem on our way of animation . “ Hopefully such an outcome is a long way in the future and we can develop succeeding technology to avoid vast damage , where possible , from such upshot , ” added Roberts .
There is often discussion of close at hand rod change of mind and subsequent catastrophe but as far as we cognize nothing is go to happen any sentence before long . The mind that we are due a pole reversal be because the field has undermine by about 5 percent per ten in late time , but this is not aclear indicationthat a reversal is about to happen .
This weakening condition has been seen before , accordingto geologist . It could only be a blip in the ever - deepen magnetic flying field . For the last 3.45 billion years the magnetised theatre of operations has wan , strengthened , and flipped . It is a complex system and we have only had access to a minuscule shot of it . We still have a lot more to learn .
