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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Earth's magnetic poles change places faster than thought



Earth's magnetic field is increased incredibly quickly, since modern humans arrived in Europe for the first time, completely reversing its poles in less than a thousand years, a new study indicates.


Previously, scientists believed that the magnetic poles switch places every few hundred thousand years. However, according to Norbert Novatsuka, an expert on pale magnetism of the German Research Centre of Geosciences, now researchers have found that the magnetic poles are reversed only 41,000 years ago - shortly after modern humans came to Europe - and turned around again in less than millennium after.

Reversal of the magnetic poles is of great importance, especially in today's world, as it is accompanied by a significant weakening of Earth's magnetic field, which protects people, and all terrestrial communication with sensitive electronics from the damaging effects of space radiation.

This study appeared in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.

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