It is estimated that the Earth’s north and south magnetic poles slowly move and that they completely reverse their positions every 200,000 years or so. These shifts would cause a compass that would have pointed north before a shift to then point toward what had previously been the south pole. Magnetic shifts are thought to be the result of changes in magnetic activity in the Earth’s core as the planet rotates.
More about the Earth’s poles:
- The magnetic poles are located very closely to the actual geographic north pole located in the Arctic Ocean and the south pole on Antarctica. These geographic poles are always centrally located on the Earth's axis and do not shift.
- Earth’s magnetic poles give off a magnetic field, which is primarily responsible for serving as the planet's guard to prevent too much radiation from the sun and space from infiltrating the atmosphere.
- Scientists have found evidence that magnetic shifts might occur more quickly as time goes by. For example, it is estimated that before the dinosaurs’ extinction, the poles reversed once every million years or so.
By Allison Boelcke
, Former Writer
Allison Boelcke, a digital marketing manager and freelance writer, helps businesses create compelling content to connect with their target markets and drive results. With a degree in English, she combines her writing skills with marketing expertise to craft engaging content that gets noticed and leads to website traffic and conversions. Her ability to understand and connect with target audiences makes her a valuable asset to any content creation team.