30 setembro 2008

Há 780 mil anos foi pior...


Earth's Poles Are Shifting to New Coordinates: Recent researches in our planet's lava flows seem to indicate that the North Pole is becoming weaker and weaker, as the magnetic field Earth generates is decreasing in intensity. According to the September 26 issue of the journal “Science,” secondary magnetic sources, other than the constant, turbulent flow of molten iron and rock beneath the ground, exist under the crust. Apparently, they can, at times, influence the magnetic field generated by our planet's poles, usually when the main “generators” are dwindling. [...]

geologists uncovered that, when the poles are weak, there is great potential for extreme anomalies on the globe, including massive storms, hurricanes, very high or subzero temperatures and so on. Though the next low in magnetic activities is still about 1,500 years away, scientists aim at being able to predict when a polar shift occurs and the possible implications it might have for humankind.