The natural state has recently had a substantial increase in population, especially in North West Arkansas. According to Census data the population has increased by close to 100,000 people just since 2010. Some friends and I were discussing why so many are flocking to the natural state, and aside from the obvious reasons such as how awesome it is here, one surprising answer kept coming up over and over again: the pole shift.

Now I am not going to lie, I laughed at first.

“That’s insane, these people are moving here for better opportunity etc.” I told myself.

So I decided to do a little investigating, which meant I jumped on Facebook and just started asking people why they were moving here. There are many homesteading and “preppers” groups for Arkansas and I found over and over again that people were really moving here because they believe a cataclysmic event is in our future.

The pole shift theory is a hypothesis based on geologic evidence that the physical north and south poles of Earth have not always been at their present-day locations. What’s so scary about it? Apparently it IS happening! The North Pole is moving on average about 40km/25 miles per year toward Russia.

 

 

There is serious debate on what a Pole Shift or geomagnetic reversal would mean for the planet as a whole. Many believe it will devistate our electrical grid, cause mega earthquakes and volcanic activity, as well cause catastrophic flooding due to the oceans being displaced. It is this potential flooding impact that have so many seeking out areas such the Ozarks. While some warn that a pole shift could be devastating, others say those fears are overstated and melodramatic. Is the situation really as dire as they make it sound?

If you’ve ever used a compass, you already know that the Earth has a magnetic field by which we can navigate. When the needle of our compass points north, it’s actually pointing toward Earth’s magnetic south — because, with magnets, opposites attract. But north as we know it has not always been. In fact, throughout the history of our planet, the poles have switched many times.

The Earth’s core, what we know of it at least, is made up of molten iron. As it flows, it produces an electrical current. That current creates the Earth’s magnetic field, which is important to fostering life for a number of reasons: the foremost of which is that it protects harmful amounts of solar radiation from penetrating the atmosphere.

 

So what happens if the Pole’s Shift?

The end of the world as we know it could come in any number of ways, depending on who you ask. First you have to know the Poles WILL shift. They have done so many times over in the Earths history. Unfortunately scientists don’t really know for sure what will happen because humans weren’t around to record what happened during the last one over 780,000 years ago.

Some people believe a global cataclysm will occur when Earths magnetic poles reverse. When north goes south, they say, the continents will lurch in one direction or the other, triggering massive earthquakes, rapid climate change and species extinctions.

The geologic record shows that hundreds of pole reversals have occurred throughout Earths history; they happen when patches of iron atoms in Earths liquid outer core become reverse-aligned, like tiny magnets oriented in the opposite direction from those around them. When the reversed patches grow to the point that they dominate the rest of the core, Earth’s overall magnetic field flips. The last reversal happened 780,000 years ago during the Stone Age, and indeed there’s evidence to suggest the planet may be in the early stages of a pole reversal right now.

 

 

 

Our magnetic field has always been in flux, and over the past few years it’s become clear that the invisible bubble that protects our planet from the harsh conditions of outer space has been getting weaker and weaker.
According to scientists’ best estimates, the field is now weakening around 10 times faster than initially thought, losing approximately 5 percent of its strength every decade. The magnetic North and South pole have already begun traveling on average 40 km/25 miles per year. But they don’t really know why, or what that means for our planet.

Daniel Baker, director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder, claims there are signs of a reversal. He says if this reversal happens, it is likely to render some areas of the planet ‘uninhabitable’ by knocking out power grids. The latest satellite data, from the European Space Agency’s Swarm trio which monitors the Earth’s magnetic field, suggests a flip may be imminent. The satellites allow researchers to study changes building at the Earth’s core.

Their studies suggest molten iron and nickel are draining energy out of the core near where the magnetic field is generated. While scientists aren’t sure exactly why this happens, they describe the type of ‘restless activity’ that could suggest the magnetic field is preparing to flip. If a switch happens, we would be exposed to solar winds capable of punching holes into the ozone layer.

The impact could be devastating for mankind, knocking out power grids, radically changing Earth’s climate and driving up rates of cancer.

“This is serious business”, Richard Holme, Professor of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences at Liverpool University.

“Imagine for a moment your electrical power supply was knocked out for a few months – very little works without electricity these days.’”

 

It’s no secret that the Earths power grids are vulnerable to failure. With the Earths magnetic shield weakening it leaves our power grid even more susceptible to a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) or from the sun. Its also important to note that a CME is not the same thing as a solar flare the two are often confused. A solar flare is simply a light burst think Northern Lights etc.

 

 

 

A CME can have a billion tons of mass, pack the energy of 20 million nuclear bombs, and — if aimed in our direction — reach Earth in a matter of hours. To understand what they can do, one need only look up the Carrington event of September 1859. That’s when Earth was hit simultaneously by a CME and a solar flare, both the largest on record. And this was before we relied on an expansive electrical grid, radio waves, satellites, computers, and other systems that are highly susceptible to solar storms.

Today a Carrington event-like storm would be more devastating than at any other point in history. In fact, a powerful event may cause $2 trillion in damage just in the first year, according to the US government, and take 4 to 10 years for the planet to recover. Why would it take so long to recover you might ask? Because most transformers are built over seas, it could take years just to get the systems up and running to produce them and get them here, take in mind the countries that build them, would use them first.

This concern is of great importance to national security and many electric service providers have begun attempting to stockpile back up transformers. Organizations such as Grid Assurance have organized some energy providers to pitch in together in the US when disastrous events impact the US electric grid.

This threat to the electrical grid pivots Arkansas in a particularly coveted position among places to live during a potential catastrophic situation such as loss of power and loss of dependency on modern conveniences.

EARTHQUAKES

On top of the potential for massive power disruption there is also the potential for major earthquakes. Right now, the consensus is that the greater danger from a pole shift lies with impacts to the electrical grid. The science is still out, so to speak, on whether or not a geomagnetic shift in poles would cause earthquakes but there are many who believe that this danger is just as prevalent.

 

They point to the earths outer core which is comprised of liquid metal that rises and sinks creating the magnetosphere that protects our planet. Because scientists believe that one of the primary causes of a pole shift is the slowing down of the movement of the outer core as its magnetism changes, some believe this is causing a wobble in the Earths spin. This wobble is not noticeable to us but this expansion and compression of the outer core creates a kind of “sloshing” they believe could cause disruptions not only in the outer core but could potentially disrupt the crust as well in the form of mega earthquakes as well as dramatic volcanic eruptions.

 

 

FLOODING

Not to be the bearer of bad news but in addition to power grid impacts, earthquakes and volcanoes there is also the potential impacts of flooding.

 

Some believe that during a pole shift the worlds Oceans could disperse causing flooding. A phenomena known as equatorial bulge causes the Earths oceans to gather or bulge around the equator because of the centripetal force of the Earths rotation. Currently the Equatorial bulge rests at 42.77 km above levels measured at the poles. If the Earths rotation were to be disrupted in any form a lot of this water could be “released” and cause catastrophic flooding across the planet as the water is displaced.

 

 

This is one contrary explanation to man made global warming that many have used for the rising sea levels and the melting of ice at the poles. Some believe the oceans are actually rising because of this water displacement.
Because the Earths climate is affected by its magnetism as well some say the Earth’s climate would change drastically. In fact, a Danish study believes global warming is directly related to the magnetic field rather than CO2 emissions. The study claimed that the planet is experiencing a natural period of low cloud cover due to fewer cosmic rays entering the atmosphere.

Radiation at ground level would also increase, with some estimates suggesting overall exposure to cosmic radiation would double causing more deaths from cancer. Researchers predict that in the event of a flip, every year a hundred thousand people would die from the increased levels of space radiation alone.

OUR EXPERTS WEIGH IN

So after gathering up all of this information and getting a clearer idea of at least what the over all theory was about I decided to get some help from those far more knowledgeable than me or my Google searches. I wanted to hear from the people who live here and whose job it is to sound the “alarm” so to speak.

So I contacted Ty C. Johnson with the Arkansas Geological Survey who referred me to Dr. Stephen Boss at the Department of Geo-sciences at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. I sent both of them a list of questions about the Pole Shift to see if they could shed some light on all of this hype.

From Ty Johnson, Arkansas Geological Survey

I am familiar with the “Pole Shift” idea or geomagnetic reversal. It is real and has occurred throughout earth’s history. It is a complex topic and nobody really knows why the poles shift. Nobody really knows what will happen either when the poles shift. It is of great interest to geologist and physicist alike and is studied specifically by geophysicist and referred to as paleomagnetism.
I have found some geophysicist and physicist that can speak more frankly about the topic. I recently read on Wikipedia that one very briefly occurred 41,000 years ago and the last significant one was about 780,000 years ago.
Apparently, in the more recent one the magnetic field was reduced to 5% of its strength during the shift from one pole to the other. This would be of concern, because our magnetic field protects us from the solar wind and solar flares, and is highly regarded to have enabled life on earth all this time. Electronics would theoretically be disturbed or disabled because of the electromagnetic relationship.

Dr. Stephen Boss at the Department of Geo-sciences at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

1. What could happen to the state of Arkansas and its residents if a pole shift were to occur?

The “pole shift” that has been in recent news stories refers to the potential for Earth’s magnetic field to ‘flip’ polarity. Earth’s magnetic field is very dynamic, being generated by electrical currents emanating from interactions of Earth’s outer and inner core. The polarity of the magnetic field has flipped many dozens of times during Earth’s history. It is a normal phenomenon of the magnetic field and the processes that generate it.
Practically, what it means for persons who enjoy the outdoors is that if the polarity of Earth’s magnetic field were to flip, your compass, which currently points toward a north pole in the Arctic will point toward the pole in the Antarctic. So the current south magnetic pole would become the north magnetic pole and vice-versa.

a.) What kind of geothermal activities such as the waking of dormant volcanoes etc. could happen in Arkansas as a result of a potential “Pole Shift”?

The dynamics of the magnetic field has very little to do with volcanic activity, so there would not be any anticipated effects on volcanoes worldwide.

b.) What could the impact of liquefaction have on the landscape if Arkansas were to experience major earthquakes in response to a potential “Pole Shift”.

The magnetic field does not control earthquakes and changes in the magnetic field don’t generate earthquakes. Earthquakes arise from stresses that accumulate in the Earth’s crust and upper mantle. Episodically, those stresses are relieved via earthquakes.

c.) Is there any chance of rising sea levels/earthquakes having a flooding impact on the state of Arkansas? ( I have seen a few maps circulating around on the Internet that showed the lower Mississippi Valley essentially becoming part of the ocean along the Mississippi River although I totally question their validity lol.)

The processes that generate Earth’s magnetic field are not connected in any way with processes that generate Earth’s climate. This, changes in the magnetic field are unrelated to changes in climate. As we are in a period of global warming and it appears that warming will continue well into the future, sea-level worldwide is rising as a consequence the melting of polar and glacial ice masses. If all polar ice and glaciers worldwide were to melt, global sea-level would rise about 70 meters (about 230 feet). Pine Bluff, AR is 220 feet above present sea-level. North Little Rock is 266 feet above present sea-level. Those maps are accurate if one assumed all polar and glacial ice melted. No one is assuming that at this time.

2. Where would the safest place be during a potential “Pole Shift” in the state of Arkansas?

There isn’t anywhere on Earth where you would be able to ‘shelter’ from a change in Earth’s magnetic field. It’s a global phenomenon.

3. What geological evidence in Arkansas (if any) is there on the affects of “Pole Shifts” that have happened in the past that might tell us what could happen in the future?

There are no observable physical effects of changes in Earth’s magnetic field to the naked eye. Magnetic minerals in igneous rocks are known to align in Earth’s magnetic field, and the alignment of those minerals in ancient rocks is the evidence we have of magnetic reversals in the past..

4. Do we know what causes a Pole Shift and is it happening today?

We don’t understand the precise mechanism of magnetic field reversals, but there are good theoretical calculations and even computer models that can simulate them. The strength of Earth’s magnetic field is declining at this time. That is the source of speculation that the magnetic field may reverse polarity sometime in the future.

5. Is there a planet or a star on the edge of our solar system causing all this havoc? (Planet X, Nibiru, Wormwood or is it just the Empire’s Death Star? <— That possibly is a joke 😉

No. The dynamics of Earth’s magnetic field are driven entirely by normal processes of the interaction of Earth’s outer and inner core. Thus, Earth’s magnetic field originate entirely from Earth’s interior, not from extraterrestrial phenomena.

So is the Pole Shift going to cause a natural disaster of apocalyptic proportions? Right now your guess is as good as mine. Even our leading scientists aren’t really certain of what will happen.
Personally, I have a heard time believing that the only difference we might notice is a change in the directions on our compass, especially considering how intricate and interdependent all of these systems are that maintain this little engine we live in called Earth.

The one point that I have found so far that all of the scientists seem to agree on is that a pole shift could potentially put our planet in danger during the shift because of the affects it could have on our planets magnetosphere and electrical grids.

I cannot fathom the disaster that could befall our civilization if we are not all prepared at the very least to survive without dependency on electricity. Whether it happens in the next couple of years or a 1,000 years, there is something to be said at the very least for being knowledgeable enough to survive in a world without the conveniences of modern society.
Global cataclysms have always been a part of our planets history and the one thing that history teaches us with absolute certainty is that they will happen again.

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