[pct-l] North magnetic pole is adrift

[jeffmoorehead1 at cox.net (Jeff Moorehead)]

Most interesting topic indeed... Moreover, the reversal itself is not a 
gradual event in geologic terms, but is catastrophic. The timing of these 
rapid geomagnetic reversals happen to coincide with pronounced terrestrial 
extinction events. The thinking is that the intensity of bombardment of the 
earth by dangerous ionizing radiation increases manyfold during periods 
where there is no magnetic polarity. The bulk of the radiation, normally 
displaying its effects as the Aurora borealis and Aurora australis, is now 
penetrating to the surface at lower latitudes where the majority of species' 
ranges exist. And they thought we all were crazy back in the 70's for 
actually worrying about ozone depletion.

Speaking of... Greg, where did you say we can view these dinosaur footprints 
near Campo? ;)



> of which solidified about the time of the magnetic reversals.  Volcanic 
> rocks
> record the magnetic orientation when they solidify due to the magnetic
> materials within them lining up to point towards the north pole where it 
> is when the
> cooling of the rock happens.
>
> There has been much speculation what a magnetic reversal would mean to
> migrating birds that depend upon the magnetic field and all of our 
> electronic
> mechanisms these days.
>
> Greg "Strider" Hummel
> (who happened to get his trail name from the extremely long stride evident 
> in
> the mud near Campo, noticed by hikers who came behind me in the year that 
> I
> hiked)
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