On Mon, 17 May 2004 01:13:50 +0000, Judah wrote:

Fortunately, it is estimated that this process will take between a few
years and a few hundred thousand. So while all experts seem to agree that
we are long overdue (it has been about 750,000 years since our last pole
swap, and supposedly it normally occurs about every 300,000), there is a
chance that you will not be required to revitalize your former pastime of
toilet-gazing too soon.

And as long as you have had your compass card upgraded before the process
is complete, it will indeed be a non-event. Just another FAA
Airworthiness Directive to comply with at your next annual...



Actually, there is a geologist that appears to make an argument that the
last time the poles switched, they switched over a period of 6-days, then
back again, and IIRC, switch yet again over some other short period of
time. Current computer models also seem to indicate that the switch can
actually take place in a rather small window of time. In the words of the
geologist (paraphrasing), if such a transition were to happen again, if
you were to closely watch your compass, you could actually watch your
compass follow the changing mangnet poles.

Supposedly, the solar winds, the atmosphere, and the remaining magnetic
fields during this transition may be enough to protect the earth from the
worst of the sun's radiation.