AboutTom Whiting Expertise Astronomy has been my hobby/pasttime for over 50 years. Currently own 3 telescopes, the largest of which is a 30 inch Newtonian truss Dob that is portable.I taught Astronomy/Meteorology at the University Level for 13 years before retiring in 1995. Being retired and home most of the time, I am able to answer all questions relatively quickly, unless it's a new moon weekend with good observing conditions. No astrology questions please, or questions about alleged UFO picture identifications.
Experience Experience: Astronomy has been my hobby and study for over 50 years. We currently now own a 30 inch portable telescope (Updated - Pennsylvania`s largest portable telescope). It can be seen on our website at:http://www.velocity.net/~bwhiting and also attend several regional starparties during the year, and have been on 5 total solar eclipse expeditions.
Organizations: President, Erie County Mobile Observers Group for over 15 years.
Publications: Wrote the "Over Erie Skies" newspaper article in our local newspaper for 11 years (1975-86).
Education: Masters Degree- Taught at the University level for 13 years. Retired 20 years -USAF Pilot - KC-135 with 180 combat missions; Also Eagle Scout, Philmont staff 2 Yrs, Order of Arrow Lodge Chief, Ham Radio (inactive).
Awards: two discoveries: The mini-coathanger asterism in Ursa Minor (the little dipper) And the mini-ladle- another asterism in the bowl of Ursa Minor. Clients: Currently President of the ECMOG as mentioned above.
Education/Credentials BS Metallurgical Engineering Grove City College, PAMaster's Degree, Gannon University, Erie, PA
Also retired USAF pilot, 20 years.
Question What do you know about the Earth's magnetic fields? What causes them to change? How does the galactic magnetism affect Earth's magnetic configuration? How do solar flares affect Earth's magnetism? What holds the Earth's magnetic flow pattern? How is it changed? What affect does the magnetic changes of the earth have on earth itself? I don't expect you to have all these answers as I know that most of it is theory with the latest one being that the oceans salinity may have a significant effect on the magnetic flow pattern. Geologists and Archeologists submit evidence that the earth's water level has been as high as 60 meters higher than it is currently and it has been at that level more than once in the lifetime of earth. Does the magnetism of the earth have anything to do with those changes? I am an engineer and I take credence in some of the metaphysical folklore that you refer to as new age in that there might be something there. I also know that whoever is controlling the global politics would not confirm or support any theories that would suggest a major change in the Earth's surface. Therefore knowing that we as humans have a limited knowledge of the history of our earth, do you think that our earth may be in a cycle of change that we as humans cannot control?
Answer Hi Daniel,
I'm not a big expert on the Earth's magnetic field (singular, not plural)...but I know a little
about it from readings. Last question first, I don't think humans are in a position to control
any part of the Earth's cycles, including our climate...compared to the sunspot cycle, volcanoes,
forest fires, etc. Fortunately we don't have to control anything as the Earth itself is self-regulating. We get too warm, more evaporation, more clouds, less incoming solar radiation, so the planet cools off. Gets too cold, less evaporation, less clouds, more incoming solar radiation, so it warms up. It's been doing that for 3 billion years by itself...nothing we can do to stop it, nor would we want to. And the magnetic field is the same way....it will do what
it does without our help or with our help.
What causes it,(not them), the magnetic field, to change? I don't know, but we see the solar magnetic cycle flip every 11 years (22 years for a full cycle) or there-abouts, and I've read that every couple hundred thousand years, the Earth's magnetic field flips too, from geological studies. Obviously there is no mass extinction at every magnetic flip, so I would offer the guess that it is not harmful to lifeforms, as we are still here. If it was extremely catastrophic, we wouldn't be here, from past flips of the magnetic field. And we are here.
What holds the pattern? I've read that it's a dynamo principle due to our rotating liquid
iron core....which makes sense to me. (Not much we can do about that either).
What affect? Compasses probably won't work well for a couple of hundred years, and aurora
may be visible at the equator during that short time period. Probably higher incidents of
cancer among species due to more incoming solar radiation.
Sea levels are higher during inter-glacial warm periods, like the Holocene that we're in now.
During ice ages, sea levels drop. I don't think there is a correlation between magnetic pole
flips and sea level rises or falls. I don't think the magnetic field, or it's changes, has anything to do with sea levels.
Also, I don't think the Milky Way magnetic field has anything to do with the Earth...we are
some 30,000 ly from the center....the galaxy magnetic field is hardly measureable, let alone
catastrophic. We would be but a gnat in an ocean in that respect.
Solar flares and Earth's magnetic field? Haven't you got it reversed? Isn't it the Earth's
magnetic field affects the solar flares...at least the incoming particles from same?
Directing them poleward, thus aurora are visible. So even if we are heading for a magnetic
pole flip, it's still our upper atmosphere that will protect us during the duration of the flip.
That's probably why we see no mass extinctions during past magnetic pole flips. If the magnetic
field is "out of action" for a while, then our atmosphere is still there to intercept incoming high energy particles. Using a little simple logic here....
I mean the atmosphere is also good at intercepting incoming cosmic rays, X-rays, and
gamma rays (which are all unaffected by magnetism- no charge on them) from distant supernova. I think simple solar particles would be intercepted too, by our upper atmosphere. Even at the poles, ultimately, it's really our upper atmosphere that finally intercepts and absorbs the incoming high speed 'projectiles' from space. So, wouldn't the equatorial atmosphere do the exact same thing? Intercept and destroy them? Of course it would. So, no need to lose any sleep over a magnetic pole flip, if it occurs in our short lifetimes.
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA USA
