The Earth's Magnetic Poles & Changes In The Jet Stream

As someone who is curious about the world, I look at major changes and ask why, and what is causing them.

One of my degrees is in archaeology, but I have always been in love with geology as well. And something that has always fascinated me are the reversals of the Earth's magnetic poles.

The Geomagnetic Reversals are very poorly understood. We can look in the geologic record to see when they occurred but we really have no idea why they occur or more importantly what effects they had on our planet and specifically it's climate.

A Bit Of History

The history of geomagnetic reversals is a complex and fascinating topic. Geologists and Earth Scientists have been studying geomagnetic reversals for many years since they were discovered, but there is still so much that we don't know.

The first evidence of geomagnetic reversals was discovered in the early 20th century. Scientists were studying the magnetic orientation of rocks when they realized that some of the rocks were magnetized in the opposite direction of the Earth's current magnetic field. This led them to hypothesize that the Earth's magnetic field had reversed its polarity at some point in the past.

Over the years, scientists have found more and more evidence of geomagnetic reversals. The most complete record of geomagnetic reversals comes from the ocean floor. As lava flows erupt from volcanoes on the ocean floor, they very rapidly cool and solidify. As they rapidly cool, they become magnetized in the direction of the Earth's current magnetic field. When the Earth's magnetic field reverses, the new lava flows are magnetized in the then magnetic field direction.

By studying the magnetic orientation of the lava flows on the ocean floor, scientists have been able to create a record of geomagnetic reversals for the past 160 million years. This record shows that the Earth's magnetic field has reversed its polarity many times over that period of time.

The average time between reversals is about 300,000 years, but there have been some periods of much longer (like the current period of 780,000 years) or shorter intervals. For example, there was a period of about 50 million years during the Cretaceous period when it appears that there were no reversals.

The cause of geomagnetic reversals is not fully understood, but it is thought to be related to the movement of molten iron in the Earth's outer core. As the molten iron moves, it generates a magnetic field. When the molten iron changes direction, the magnetic field also changes direction.

Geomagnetic reversals do not cause any immediate harm to life on Earth - we think - but we really do not know. However, they can have some long-term effects, such as climate impact, disrupting the navigation systems of migratory animals, etc..

Scientists are still learning about the effects of geomagnetic reversals on Earth's climate. However, there is no evidence that they have caused any mass extinctions as far as we know - but we really do not know.

Are We Experiencing A Pole Reversal Now?

We appear to be in the early stages of a geomagnetic reversal right now.

The Earth's magnetic field has been weakening for the past few centuries, and the rate of weakening has accelerated in recent decades.

Some of the effects that have been noticed so far include:

• The South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), a region of weakened magnetic field over the Atlantic Ocean, has grown larger and more intense.
• The magnetic poles have been drifting faster than usual.
• The number of cosmic rays reaching the Earth's surface has increased.

These effects are consistent with the early stages of a geomagnetic reversal. However, it is important to note that reversals can take thousands of years to complete (we think because of the limited geologic records.)

If a reversal does occur, it is completely unknown if there are any immediate negative consequences for life on Earth. However, it could have some effects, such as disrupting climate, the navigation systems of migratory animals and increasing the risk of damage to satellites and other electronic infrastructure. Those are short-term effects, but our knowledge is so limited that most scientists just don't know.

Something New Was Discovered

The recent discovery of a very large object inside the molten Earth rotating with the core but independently is a significant one, and scientists are still working to understand its implications.

The object, which is thought to be about the size of Pluto, was discovered using seismic waves generated by earthquakes.

Some theorize that it might be a remnant of the object that collided with the Earth and resulted in creating the Moon - called Theia. Theia was a Mars-sized object that is thought to have collided with the early Earth about 4.5 billion years ago. The collision ejected a large amount of material into orbit around the Earth, which eventually coalesced to form the Moon.

How it was found was that seismic waves travel through the Earth at different speeds depending on the material they are traveling through. By studying the patterns of seismic waves, scientists can create a map of the Earth's interior.

The newly discovered object is located in the Earth's outer core, which is a liquid layer of iron and nickel. The object is rotating at the same speed as the Earth's core, which suggests that it is part of the core or that it is interacting with the core in some way.

Scientists are not sure what the object is or how it got there. One possibility is that it is a remnant of the early Earth, when the planet was still forming. Another possibility is that it is a piece of material that broke off from the Earth's inner core. Or that it is a remnant of Theia (I personally like this one.)

Whatever its origin, the discovery of this new object is a reminder that there is still much that we don't know about the Earth's interior. It is also a reminder that the Earth is a dynamic planet that is constantly changing.

The discovery of this object could have a number of implications for our understanding of the Earth's interior. For example, it could help us to better understand the process of geomagnetic reversal, which is when the Earth's magnetic field flips polarity. It could also help us to better understand the Earth's core, which is the source of the Earth's magnetic field.

More research is needed to fully understand the implications of this discovery. However, it is clear that this is a significant finding that could have a major impact on our understanding of the Earth's interior.

Meanwhile Climate Change

Many have noted changes to the Jet Stream.

What is the Jet Stream (or Jetstream)? The jet stream is a fast-flowing, narrow band of air that circulates around the globe. It is found in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, at an altitude of about 6-12 kilometers (4-7 miles). The jet stream typically flows from west to east, but it can also meander and even split into two or more branches.

The jet stream is thought to be caused by the temperature difference between the tropics and the poles. The tropics are much warmer than the poles, so the air in the tropics rises. As the air rises, it cools and eventually sinks at the poles. This creates a circulation pattern of warm air rising in the tropics and sinking at the poles.

The jet stream is located at the boundary between the warm air rising in the tropics and the cold air sinking at the poles. The warm air is less dense than the cold air, so it rises above the cold air. The cold air is denser than the warm air, so it sinks below the warm air.

The jet stream plays an important role in weather patterns around the world. It can affect the location and intensity of storms, as well as the temperature and precipitation patterns in different regions.

It is logical to think that with warming in the polar regions, the jet stream will travel. However, might it also be influenced by geomagnetic pole reversal?

The Jet Stream & Magnetic Pole Reversal

There is some evidence to suggest that there may be a correlation between the flow of the jet stream and changes in the Earth's magnetic poles.

One study, published in the journal Nature Geoscience in 2017, found that the jet stream shifted northward during the last geomagnetic reversal, about 780,000 years ago. The study's authors suggest that this shift may have been caused by changes in the Earth's magnetic field.

Another study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters in 2019, found that the jet stream is more likely to meander during periods of weak geomagnetic field strength. The study's authors suggest that this may be because the weaker magnetic field makes the jet stream more susceptible to disturbances from other factors, such as solar activity.

However, it is important to note that these studies are correlational, meaning that they do not prove that the jet stream is directly affected by changes in the Earth's magnetic field. More research is needed to determine the nature of the relationship between the two.

It is also important to note that the jet stream is a complex system that is affected by a variety of factors, including changes in atmospheric temperature and pressure. Therefore, it is unlikely that changes in the Earth's magnetic field are the only factor that affects the jet stream.

However, the research that has been done so far suggests that there may be a link between the two. More research is needed to understand the nature of this relationship and to determine whether or not it is likely to have any significant impacts on climate and weather patterns.

Final Thought

The history of geomagnetic reversals is a reminder that the Earth is constantly changing. It is also a reminder that there is still much that we don't know about our planet.

I hope that in writing this, other scientists might contribute their thoughts on geomagnetic reversals, such as we are experiencing now, and what it is and will do to our planet's climate.

The topic is fascinating, but as we have seen over and over, our ignorance can lead to being catastrophically blindsided. Let's hope that this geomagnetic reversal is more benign than Hollywood disaster movies might fictionalize.