Magnetic variation

[Sybarite]

From the BBC site :

"The geomagnetic storm has caused compasses to swing wildly.

The direction of magnetic north changed during the storm
The compass variation at the Lerwick geomagnetic observatory in Scotland changed by 5.1 degrees in only 25 minutes at about 0630 GMT."

I presume it comes back to its normal position afterwards?

John



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[Ohdrat]

errr yes eventually.. at worst we could end up with a reveresed polarity.. with the intermediate magnetic chaos.. more anomalies to the point where there is no discernable difference between north and south poles

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[Peppermint]

Re: Pity

the poor candidates at sailing schools for the next few weeks. Talk about moving targets.

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[Ohdrat]

Re: Pity

no GPS either.. electronic instruments maybe disfunctional and radios and radar may cease to function.. What are the odds on some serious wreckings?

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[BrendanS]

it's the magnetic constituent of the storm passing the earth which is pulling the compass needle off. Finland have recorded similar effects, and it's a very rare phenomenon

Once the storm has passed, things will return to normal. The storm will not affect the earth's normal magnetic field

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[Birdseye]

Re: Pity

the storm cut off my hf radio reception because it buggered up the appleton / heavyside layers, but it doesnt seem to have messed up my gps reception and i cant imagine it affecting radar since the pulses are strong, and reflector is off a physical object.

what has been peoples actaul experience?

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[AndrewB]

Reversed polarity

Isn't the Earth about due for another total switch (<A target="_blank" HREF=http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=523>SEE HERE</A>)? Maybe this is the trigger.

As SWMBO generally reads the compass upside-down, perhaps she might steer the right way for once.

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[BrendanS]

Re: Reversed polarity

Completely and utterly separate

Solar storms will not cause a switch. That will happen in its own good time for different physical reasons

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[Ohdrat]

Re: Personal experience

I am utterly disorientated and lost.. I now have a bi polar disfunction and have been zapped by the aurora's rays

my research has also highlighted the fact that us Highlanders are going to be very confused when we become the South ..