h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've seen some educated guesses, though. The shift will probably be gradual, and wouldn't necessarily cause huge climate changes.

About 10,000,000 years ago the Earth's magnetic field shut down completely.

This was marked by the appearance of entirely new life forms, proconsul, the first ape, the graminae, marking emergenge of the first modern grasses from the grass-like reeds and the begining of the spreading of savannah grasslands.

The strength of Earth's magnetic field has been decreasing for about 160 years. The decrease might reverse itself. Who knows? It could take thousands of years for the poles to flip, so let's not worry about it too much.

Our magnetic field protects us from radiation from the Sun. A weak field would allow holes in the ozone layer, perhaps. Or disruptions in radio communications. Even power outages.

There's a patch of reverse-aligned stuff under Brazil. Who knows what will happen there?

There's evidence that there was a reversal similar to the south Atlantic reversal over Europe around the time of the rennaisance, not least, Galileo was reporting the aurora borealis as far south as Padua, Italy, certainly an unusual occurence.

Padua's latitude is 45.4064 N. That's not very far from the latitude for Boston, where I live (42.3601 N). I wonder if the indigenous people of northern North America saw the aurora borealis and wondered why they were seeing it?

with pole reversal "they" think ? (open question on scientists ) that many migratory birds species will die off because of confusion of summer/winter moves etc.
Also! Ultraviolet and other harmful rays from our sun getting through "to us"

http://www.iflscience.com/environment/so-are-earths-magnetic-poles-about-to-flip-or-not/

Some of us will manage okay even if our satellites and power grids are affected by the weakening magnetic field. In would expect plants and animals to do just fine. If they *do* get harmed, humans would likely be more to blame than the change in poles.

Squirrels, rats, mice, and cockroaches all seem likely to weather just about anything that could happen.

http://divediscover.whoi.edu/mid-ocean-ridges/magnetics-polarity/

Might help explain ?

It might not be a big deal, but even if it is, the planet will do fine. let's not worry.

I know when it happens - I wain't be around

But I "worry" for humans who will be

Soz! Paul, but it's time for me to log offand hit the pillow - I need my ugly sleep
sod! Beauty

I'll "see" you later dear friend be safe and be well

That's okay as long as the pillow doesn't hit back.

Thanks Paul You know what for

Does it have something to do with a reply to a certain email?

Be afraid, be very afraid; from now on I can blather nonstop. Wait, I already do that here. never mind.

Friendship is! Paul

some writings etc CAN'T be put in hootoo

Yes, it's afternoon or evening here. To wit, late afternoon/early evening. Or odding. Whatever.

Blathering is about all that we have left, given how little control the world lets us have. This would be tragic if there weren't so many signs of comedy about it.

I've just ordered some plants: Ramps, which are a wild form of onion that can be found in the woods. I will plant them in my backyard, under the shade of an oak tree.

the thing I hate about distance your clocks go back/forward about 3 weeks before ours. Ours is the back-end of march.
throws having a natter out of sync

http://www.timeanddate.com/time/change/uk/london?year=2019