The magnetic field is weakening, and the poles may reverse, but should you worry?

Humanity has survived every calamity it has faced so far.

Every day it seems a new threat to humanity is uncovered. Today's concern is the weakening of the Earth's magnetic field, which incidentally is happening. Should humanity worry? Yes, we should.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- The Earth is a rocky planet with a molten iron core. That iron core creates a magnetic field with two poles, a north and south. It also protects us from harmful radiation by deflecting the radiation. Some of these radioactive particles are drawn towards the planet's poles where they collide with gas molecules high in the atmosphere, creating the aurora.  The rest are deflected into space.

A good way to think of the magnetic field is like an umbrella. If we remain underneath it, it protects us from showers of radiation given off by the Sun.

However, that umbrella sometimes closes. Or more specifically, the magnetic field weakens and reverses. South becomes North and vice versa.

Scientists have now figured that the magnetic field has been weakening at the rate of 5 percent per century. It is now the weakest it has been in tens of thousands of years. The last full reversal was 780,000 years ago. The last partial reversal was 41,000 years ago. The pole is supposed to flip about every 200,000 to 300,00 years. As you can see, we are terribly overdue.

Prior to the flip, the field will weaken, then multiple poles may appear. Finally, the whole thing will flip. The process can take several centuries.

So how dangerous is it?

It's not as dangerous as it sounds. As the magnetic field weakens, more radiation from the Sun reaches Earth. That's not good for people who are susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer. But humans have survived a weakened magnetic field, as they did 41,000 years ago. And life on Earth has flourished despite routine weakening and reversals.

At worst, some of our routines would have to change, and we will need to be much more mindful of direct sunlight. But it won't destroy the planet.

Our technology could suffer, but it could be tweaked to cope with the changes as they occur.

Migrating animals, birds in particular might have difficulty knowing which way to fly since we know they can sense the magnetic field and use it for navigation.

What is the likelihood of this happening soon?

It is possible that we could experience further, significant weakening of the magnetic field within our lifetimes, and possibly even the emergence of a new pole, but it's still unlikely. When it does happen, it will bring some changes for the planet and all who live on it. But it will not be catastrophic, and life will go on much as it has for centuries.

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