Five spacecraft from two ESA missions simultaneously encountered large oscillations in Earth’s magnetic field as they traveled around the planet’s night side on Aug. 5, 2004.
According to a statement about the incident just released by the space agency, the cause of the phenomenon observed by the spacecraft remains unknown, but scientists are hopeful the data eventually will provide important clues about the effects of space weather.
At about 15:30 Central European Time on that date, something set the trailing edge of Earth’s magnetosphere quivering. “It was like the waves created by a boat traveling across a lake,” said lead researcher Tielong Zhang of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Googling around, I happened upon this aurora image — photographed by Stan Richard in Wisconsin — that night.
I don’t know if they’re connected; but, hey — seems possible.
I’ve been worrying about this too, because it HAS been moving “north” for some time now. Please refer to this NASA web site:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/29dec_magneticfield.htm
It doesn’t require an ecologist to comprehend the chemistry behind the relationship between Freon [and related] and the ozone holes, Mark. Lo, these many years, I worked for Sam Shepherd [the inventor of aerosol packaging] at ATI. Though, I was long gone when the ozone hole correlation was discovered and verified, he was scientist enough to agree with the analysis after he tested it, himself.
He didn’t worry much about the business. After all, we only used freon because it was adequate and really cheap at the time. It’s scary when I think of how casual we were with it.
On the other hand, you’re spot on to be concerned about the magnetic flip-flop — a disaster [maybe] that we can do absolutely nothing about preventing or especially preparing for. I agree that there have also been a number of other signs of imminence. Of course, in geological time that could be tomorrow or thousands of years off.
It’s been 25 years since my college physics days, so I could be wrong . . .
A fluctuating magnetic field releases energy. If the earth’s magnetic field is oscillating, then at least part of the energy release is in the form of heat.
So how much does this contribute to global warming?
I wonder if this might explain the rapid fluctuations you sometimes hear when listening to AM radio at night. This phenomenon was explained by a Physics prof as “the atmosphere bouncing up and down.”
That’s caused by the “E-layer”, Brenda. Any Ham Radio operator can explain it better than I can.
If the magnetic poles reverse, will we need to buy new compasses. Ones with Daylight Savings Pole?
THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!
>> This is likely the real reason for holes in the ozone layer (not freon like the ecoweenies say)
It’s amazing how utterly ignorant some people can be. They can be presented with 50 proofs of a cause of an event, but some wacko comes up with some alternate theory, and though it has no science behind it, the contrarians blindly latch onto it. as a truth. This may be positive proof that the theory of evolution must be correct, because god would not create such peanut brains and take credit for it.
Awake,
Yes, my remark about the hole in the ozone layer being partially caused by the earth’s magnetism was a flippant remark meant to tweak the noses of the “we can fix the world” crowd. Obviously, it struck home.
I have no evidence of this. It is something I would like considered, even if you don’t like it or if it has no merit. However, this is not the place for a flame war and I don’t want to participate in one.
It is simply my opinion that the hole in the ozone layer is a natural occurance and it is self correcting. We give humans far too much credit for the state of the planet. The chlorine emitted by Mount Pinatubo could just as easily be to blame as humanity. That, however, doesn’t drive Federal grants to universities.
Lighten up a little, dude. This is Dvorak Uncensored, after all.
Cheers! And I hope you had a good April Fools Day.
The hole in the ozone could have been there naturally for most of the earths history. There is no way to know for sure, since the ability to see it and measure it isn’t that old. We know it flucuates in it’s size. We have many guesses as to how and why it’s there. But thats the point …..they are educated guesses.
I won’t deny that the planet is heating up, it’s a fact. What I just won’t embrace yet, is that we humans are the cause or even one of the main causes. What gets me Awake isn’t that non-global warming believers latch on to any study to say it’s not humans, but people like you who poo poo ANY study, that doesn’t toe the far-left ecco agenda line.
The honest scientists, the ones not lining up for federal grants, have several theory’s as to what’s going on. But, NONE of them, grant getters or non-grant scientists have the answers yet. Science, for all it’s orderliness is really a murky business. Just when you think you have it figured out, some little thing pops up that can throw the whole thing into disarray.
Until more complete answers are found, and proven, I think we humans should do all we can to lessen our impact on the earth. It may not be needed after all, but it sure can’t hurt.