We found the first Australian evidence of a major shift in Earth’s magnetic poles. It may help us predict the next [by Agathe Lise-Pronovost, McKenzie Research Fellow in Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne]

Title:

We found the first Australian evidence of a major shift in Earth’s magnetic poles. It may help us predict the next

 

Author:

Agathe Lise-Pronovost

McKenzie Research Fellow in Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne

 

Published:

The Conversation, 15 February 2021

https://theconversation.com/we-found-the-first-australian-evidence-of-a-major-shift-in-earths-magnetic-poles-it-may-help-us-predict-the-next-155040

 

From the article:

About 41,000 years ago, something remarkable happened: Earth’s magnetic field flipped and, for a temporary period, magnetic north was south and magnetic south was north.  

 

Palaeomagnetists refer to this as a geomagnetic excursion. This event, which is different to a complete magnetic pole reversal, occurs irregularly through time and reflects the dynamics of Earth’s molten outer core.