NationStates Jolt Archive

Good thing we have GPS now... those pesky Canadians are moving the magnetic pole around just for grins...
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/12/09/D8ED22880.html

Earth's north magnetic pole is drifting away from North America and toward Siberia at such a clip that Alaska might lose its spectacular Northern Lights in the next 50 years, scientists said Thursday. Despite accelerated movement over the past century, the possibility that Earth's modestly fading magnetic field will collapse is remote. But the shift could mean Alaska may no longer see the sky lights known as auroras, which might then be more visible in more southerly areas of Siberia and Europe.

You people don't give up do you? Firs this was "reported" by Myrmidonisia as a red herring about global warming and now we have whatever the hell this is.

That sounds a bit Velikovskyish.

Next we'll hide the ice floes and really mess with your heads.

Actually, this ( if true ) is rather worrying. Geologically, shifts in the location of the earth's poles are preceeded by shifts in the magenetic poles. And shifts in the actual poles are highly geologically disruptive, eg. massive earthquakes and tectonic plate shifts. :eek:

You people don't give up do you? Firs this was "reported" by Myrmidonisia as a red herring about global warming and now we have whatever the hell this is.

this is actually really happening. the field is slowly shifting around the planet and in about 200 years the north and south poles will have switched places

this is actually really happening. the field is slowly shifting around the planet and in about 200 years the north and south poles will have switched places
Yes I know, they have been doing stuff like that for a long time, which really doesn't have anything to do with what I said.

Actually, this ( if true ) is rather worrying. Geologically, shifts in the location of the earth's poles are preceeded by shifts in the magenetic poles. And shifts in the actual poles are highly geologically disruptive, eg. massive earthquakes and tectonic plate shifts. :eek:
I'm not worried - I'm planning to relocate to a piece of land located right on top of the Precambrian Shield. Oldest, most solid lump of rock in the world, very geologically stable.

Now, where to hide the polar bears...

It seems that everything's gone wrong, since Canada came along
- i mean the north pole and the toilet humour run rampant

I'm not worried - I'm planning to relocate to a piece of land located right on top of the Precambrian Shield. Oldest, most solid lump of rock in the world, very geologically stable.
Which brings up a very interesting question and one I have wondered about for quite some time: where is the most geologically stable location in North America???

Anyone know for sure?

Which brings up a very interesting question and one I have wondered about for quite some time: where is the most geologically stable location in North America???

Anyone know for sure?

Definitely not Yellowstone National Park. :D

Which brings up a very interesting question and one I have wondered about for quite some time: where is the most geologically stable location in North America???

Anyone know for sure?

The middle of the Canadian Shield should be it. It's been geologically stable for billions of years. So somewhere on the border between Ontario and Manitoba, near Hudson Bay, ought to do it.

Of course, there are climatological effects to worry about there, such as periods of widespread continental glaciation. But you can easily outrun a glacier if you have to.

:p

Which brings up a very interesting question and one I have wondered about for quite some time: where is the most geologically stable location in North America???

Anyone know for sure?
Heh, well, I'm banking on being right, Eut. I'm going with "Precambrian Shield" for 200.

This would make a good poll/thread, btw.

The middle of the Canadian Shield should be it. It's been geologically stable for billions of years. So somewhere on the border between Ontario and Manitoba, near Hudson Bay, ought to do it.

Of course, there are climatological effects to worry about there, such as periods of widespread continental glaciation. But you can easily outrun a glacier if you have to.

:p
Actually, the Shield covers most of central and southwestern Quebec, all of central and northern Ontario, and the east of Manitoba, so take yer pick.

And when did it stop being 'Precambrian' and start being 'Canadian', anyway?

Definitely not Yellowstone National Park. :D
No shit, Sherlock! Heh! :p

The middle of the Canadian Shield should be it. It's been geologically stable for billions of years. So somewhere on the border between Ontario and Manitoba, near Hudson Bay, ought to do it.

Of course, there are climatological effects to worry about there, such as periods of widespread continental glaciation. But you can easily outrun a glacier if you have to.

:p
Agreed. So is there anywhere that has a resonable balance of the two mutually unacceptable alternatives? :)

You people don't give up do you? Firs this was "reported" by Myrmidonisia as a red herring about global warming and now we have whatever the hell this is.
Global warming has nothing to do with the magnetic poles. The magnetic poles have shifted for years and will continue to do so and I think at some point...dissolve in effect. I think they used to be near the equator at one point also.

And when did it stop being 'Precambrian' and start being 'Canadian', anyway?
Ooooo! Picky, picky! TSK! :D

Global warming has nothing to do with the magnetic poles. The magnetic poles have shifted for years and will continue to do so and I think at some point...dissolve in effect. I think they used to be near the equator at one point also.
As long as the earth's core is molten, there will be a magnetic field with poles. The core is expected to remain molten for several millions of years longer.

As long as the earth's core is molten, there will be a magnetic field with poles. The core is expected to remain molten for several millions of years longer.

Well, true except the poles reverse once in while.

And when did it stop being 'Precambrian' and start being 'Canadian', anyway?
It was called the Canadian Shield long before anyone called it "Precambrian" (or even knew that it was Precambrian in age.)

:p

Actually, this ( if true ) is rather worrying. Geologically, shifts in the location of the earth's poles are preceeded by shifts in the magenetic poles. And shifts in the actual poles are highly geologically disruptive, eg. massive earthquakes and tectonic plate shifts. :eek:

Not from the studies I've read, though the field is also weakining, which also coorelates with a comming shift as well... Expect the pole to wander alittle, and then for the earth's field to collapse bathing the surface in more solar radiation, predicating a new field...

It was called the Canadian Shield long before anyone called it "Precambrian" (or even knew that it was Precambrian in age.)

:p
I must have gone to a fairly impressive elementary school back in the 70s, then. Ahead of their time-!

Agreed. So is there anywhere that has a resonable balance of the two mutually unacceptable alternatives? :)
The Rockies and anything west are pretty much out - lots of tectonic activity there. Ditto Alaska (which, surprisingly, wasn't glaciated during the Ice Age - go figure.) As long as you stay south of the Ohio River, you'll be out of range of most glaciers. Coastal areas are out, for reasons that should be obvious post-Katrina. Anything near Missouri has to worry about the New Madrid fault. And Mexico? Well, it got whacked by a really big asteroid a few million years back - who's to say it can't happen again? :D

You're actually not doing too badly right where you are. You're too far south for glaciers (I'm not sure if central NC has ever been glaciated - certainly not in the most recent glacial episodes.) And central NC hasn't been geologically active since the Triassic era. There are still a few minor earthquakes, but they don't tend to get above 5 on the Richter scale, which is not a big deal. The big quakes like the one that destroyed Charleston a couple of hundred years ago tend to be on the coastal plain, so you're out of range for those.

So, stay put. Just watch out for low-flying FedEx planes.

:p

Actually, this ( if true ) is rather worrying. Geologically, shifts in the location of the earth's poles are preceeded by shifts in the magenetic poles. And shifts in the actual poles are highly geologically disruptive, eg. massive earthquakes and tectonic plate shifts. :eek:
Yikes, what have you been reading? The flipping of the poles doesn't do much damage - first of all regions of reverse polarity form (one already has, off South Africa), then for about 50 years there will be multiple magnetic poles, which will lead to brilliant auroral displays and an increased risk of skin cancer (although recent research suggests the effects will be limitted, so long as the ozone layer doesn't get worse again), and then they'll settle down the other way round.

I must have gone to a fairly impressive elementary school back in the 70s, then. Ahead of their time-!
It was called the Canadian Shield a long, long time before you were born, then. :rolleyes:

Actually, this ( if true ) is rather worrying. Geologically, shifts in the location of the earth's poles are preceeded by shifts in the magenetic poles. And shifts in the actual poles are highly geologically disruptive, eg. massive earthquakes and tectonic plate shifts. :eek:

It's also extremely rare. The moon tends to stabilize the earth's rotation, preventing major shifts in the positions of the rotational poles. The continents can wander around in relation to them, of course, but that takes a long time. (See the second and third sections of this article for more info: https://www.space.com/searchforlife/seti_doyle_merge_051208.html )

:p

Next we'll hide the ice floes and really mess with your heads.
Exactly. You've been fishing through those funny holes in the ice and upsetting the balance of nature.

And it looks like Teh_Pantless has absolutely no sense of humor, and thinks that I'm actually serious... when I'm trying to make a lighthearted joke.

Meh...

If you're in North America and worried about it... try Paradise. Central North Carolina, up towards the Appalachian foothills. Close enough to visit the beach, high enough in altitude not to become the beach, and the Appalachians have been around as a mountain range for billions of years. Climate is quite pleasant, enough that it will probably remain so in spite of global warming or an ice age. Should stay reasonable stable for the rest of your natural lifespan.

You people don't give up do you? Firs this was "reported" by Myrmidonisia as a red herring about global warming and now we have whatever the hell this is.

but no one says this is our fault.