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Author	Topic:   Earth's Magnetic Field Shrinking
Victor Member	posted 11-05-2006 09:51 AM             It is apparently old news that the earth's magnetic field has been shrinking at a rate of about 5% per century since since it started being measured about 1840. What is new is that it was shrinking far more slowly prior to that (see David Gubbins, www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/312/5775/900 Since a weaker magnetic field is less able to shield earth from the charged particles of the solar wind, this could be blown up into a catastrophe the equal of global warming. Come to think of it, the accelerated weakening of the magnetic field does seem to coincide with the end of the Little Ice Age. Maybe those particles from the solar wind are increasing the amount of energy being received from the sun. I wonder how many climate models include the effect of the earth's magnetic field on the solar wind. IP: Logged
KGB Moderator	posted 11-05-2006 02:34 PM             I notice that 1840 is about the time of the Industrial Revolution. Coincidence? I think not. Obviously the magnetic field shrinkage is anthropogenic, likely a result of the increased use of ferric metals and electricity. IP: Logged
Drakens Member	posted 11-05-2006 06:09 PM             I've heard of this before, it is speculated from paleomagnetic samples that the Earth's magnetic field has flipped in the past and that we could be in the midst of or approaching it happening again. Here's an article from NASA on the subject. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/29dec_magneticfield.htm IP: Logged
KGB Moderator	posted 11-05-2006 07:21 PM             I think magnetic field flips are pretty well established. I also recall that there is little evidence that such flips match up with extinctions, suggesting the impact on life may not be that great. I think we went over this a while back. IP: Logged

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