What would happen if the north pole and south pole shifted? (poleshift)?

Question

would the world end? would we feel it move? would we even notice the movment?

Answer 1

it is an total imaginary concept

Answer 2

No-one knows, but we could all get badly irradiated while the magnetic field was in flux. Also various natural cycles might break down, such as migrating birds.

I don't think we'd all die, but it might be quite nasty for a bit.

Mind you, what I'm talking about is only a magnetic pole shift. If you mean actual physical pole shift then I'd say we're all doomed.

Answer 3

The penguins would have to move

Answer 4

The magnetic poles move all the time.

There is a geologic record that shows it has happened many times in our past but not at regular intervals. Time betwen reversals can be 10000 yrs or a million years.

However - we know that the magnetic field does not collapse in the process - if it did, there would be majr extinctions that correlate with the geologic record for pole reversals - there is no correlation.

The latest hypothesis is that the Earth's magnetic field gets chaotic, with lots of north and south poles - so we still have a magenitc field, but compasses will be useless. And then it straightens itself back out, but with north and south reverse.

This is actually similar to what the sun does - but the sun does it on a regular 11 year cycle.

As for it happening in 2012 - that is like saying Yellowstone will erupt that year - those people that observe the magnetic field think it will go through its chaotic thing and reverse some time soon based on how it is currently behaving, but that is a hypothesis waiting for the event to occur to be tested, and the exact date certainly is not known.

Answer 5

I assume you are asking about a "shift" in the spin poles, not the magnetic poles.  Since this would take magic to happen, and would violate the laws of physics and logic, anything could happen.  My dog could turn into a turtle.  You could grow wings.  The Earth could turn into a giant candy cane.  Once you allow one silly magically thing to happen, you might as well allow them all.

Answer 6

It has been proven that the magnetic poles were once opposing to how they sit now. This is also expected to happen within the near future. This was discussed on QI TV show and seems a complex subject. However, i assume the compasses will re-direct south and water will run down plug holes in the reverse to your relative local.

Answer 7

Apparently we won't have to wait long to find out as we're long overdue a poleshift.  Its happened quite a few times in the past but the evidence suggests that in general no lifeforms have become extinct at the same time.  As its happened before I assume that when it does happen again we'll have a way of dealing with it.  Anyway when I say its gonna happen soon I mean in the next 10,000 years or something.  At that point it might be a blessing to put humans out of their misery.  What will they become?

Answer 8

The magnetic field will temporalllily weaken, and compasses will switch direction. North will be south and south will be north.

Answer 9

not anything good then where would te polar bears eat

and wouldnt the ice melt while the change over happened.

cheers

Answer 10

It is moving slowly.

You do not feel a thing.