JustKindaBoredUKno
Smash Lord
NOTE: I know I once had a topic similar to this. The main focus of this is to discuss what will happen that year, whereas the last was to determine whether is was a bunch of nonsense or not. If the thread still existed, I would have redone that thread.
Anyways.
Before, I was skeptical, thinking that 2012 was nothing but a bunch of nonsense conspirators took from some ancient Mayan readings. But now, I'm not so sure.
I've been taking Astronomy this year in high school, and a couple things we've discussed and learned about seem to point to 2012 as a year of the happening.
Thing One: Sunspot Cycle Peaking
First discovered in 1610 by Galileo, sunspots have always been a key subject when learning about the sun. Since then, we've learned that the sun undergoes cycles, in which the number of sunspots that appear on the surface steadily increase, reach a peak, and decrease.
A sunspot, for those who may not know, A sunspot is a region on the Sun's surface (photosphere) that is marked by intense magnetic activity, which inhibits convection, forming areas of reduced surface temperature.
I'm going to assume we all know how a magnetic field, such as Earth's is created. The sun can create a magnetic field the same way, except the sun is made of plasma. Therefore, instead of one north and south magnetic pole, there turns out to be many poles in many places. Where these poles are, a connection is made between them, creating an area of less rotational plasma, thus "cooling" it. Of course, the area is still extremely hot, just dark by comparison to the rest of the sun.
Now, a cycle is underway now, and could peak around late 2012, according to estimates. Which brings me to a point: Most solar flares and coronal mass ejections originate in magnetically active regions around visible sunspot groupings. Meaning where sunspots are, these are soon to follow.
A coronal mass ejection (CME) is an ejection of material from the solar corona, usually observed with a white-light coronagraph.
The ejected material is a plasma consisting primarily of electrons and protons (in addition to small quantities of heavier elements such as helium, oxygen, and iron.)
Now, normally CME's aren't a big issue. Earth's own magnetic field protects us, and deflect most of the CME away, or ground it towards Earth's north magnetic pole, generating the Northern Lights.
But here's a second part to it. The solar cycles are a cycle itself. Each peak of strength per cycle can generally get stronger and stronger, hit a peak, the get weaker and weaker, and we're due for a quite a decent one.
Now, CME's can, if an issue, cause some problems on Earth. They generally wreak havoc on electronic devices and can cause them to overload, and break. They can cause massive power outages, overall they just aren't a very nice thing.
But generally, big or small, not a big problem. But here's my part two.
Thing 2: Magnetic Pole Swap
Throughout history, sailors have depended on the North and South Magnetic Poles to guide them whilst at sea. They've been north and south for awhile, and scientists never thought much of it, until not so recently, when scientists examined ancient rocks and discovered that the magnetic pole actually has switched a few times in Earth's history, and is due to switch again. The switch roughly every 250,000 years, and its been 780,000 since out last. We're overdue.
Now, due to this switch, Earth's magnetic field is weakening. It has weakened 10% over the past 150 years, which is extremely significant. Scientists believed a few years ago that this switch would have happened years and years from now, but now recent studies show this magnetic reversal could happen very soon. Some point to as early as 2012.
Some information on it can be found here.
A key quote from here is this:
"It is in this region that the shielding effect of the magnetic field is severely reduced, thus allowing high energy particles of the hard radiation belt to penetrate deep into the upper atmosphere to altitudes below a hundred kilometers (62 miles)," Mandea said.
Starting to piece it together?
Tying It Together
Make this a mental example. A dam is built to protect a city underneath. Overtime, a dam is renovated and kept safe, as to not erode and break. Think of this dam as Earth's Magnetic Field, and the city below as Earth.
Overtime, a dam will weaken. As is our field. A few leaks may spring up in the dam, but nothing seriously dangerous. But as our dam (field) weakens more and more, further and further damage is done to the city, until... well, you know.
A weakening field is EXTREMELY serious. Some scientists say it may not be Magnetic Reversal at all, and that its just weakening. One this is for certain however, it is weakening.
Now, lets go back to our dam. Say somewhere up the river, another dam breaks, releasing a surge of water and pressure on the already weakening dam. This is the equivalent of a massive CME. I'll let you decide what may happen.
Consequences
A variety of things may result:
- A radiation burst may leak through our O-Zone layer, causing many cases of cancer.
- It may alter our own atmosphere, changing its composition.
- It may destroy various satellites, rendering many ways of communication useless.
- A massive outbreak of evolution is generally related with magnetic reversals
- Birds, fish, and any other animals who use the Magnetic north and south pole will be harmfully effected, possibly altering the food chain on a huge scale
-Nothing at all.
And each consequence may have a list of its own. And there could be a mix of any two or more.
Of course, this is all theory. I mean not to scare anyone into thinking the Earth is doomed, because by no means has that been proven, or it that even my belief. I just wished to bring aware and discuss such events.
Whew, that took some time. Now, I'd like to make aware to all that I devised this by myself, while thinking about the two reacting to each other. I see there are many who have thought of the same thing, but I wish to let everyone know that I didn't look into such sites.
Discuss?
Anyways.
Before, I was skeptical, thinking that 2012 was nothing but a bunch of nonsense conspirators took from some ancient Mayan readings. But now, I'm not so sure.
I've been taking Astronomy this year in high school, and a couple things we've discussed and learned about seem to point to 2012 as a year of the happening.
Thing One: Sunspot Cycle Peaking
First discovered in 1610 by Galileo, sunspots have always been a key subject when learning about the sun. Since then, we've learned that the sun undergoes cycles, in which the number of sunspots that appear on the surface steadily increase, reach a peak, and decrease.
A sunspot, for those who may not know, A sunspot is a region on the Sun's surface (photosphere) that is marked by intense magnetic activity, which inhibits convection, forming areas of reduced surface temperature.
I'm going to assume we all know how a magnetic field, such as Earth's is created. The sun can create a magnetic field the same way, except the sun is made of plasma. Therefore, instead of one north and south magnetic pole, there turns out to be many poles in many places. Where these poles are, a connection is made between them, creating an area of less rotational plasma, thus "cooling" it. Of course, the area is still extremely hot, just dark by comparison to the rest of the sun.
Now, a cycle is underway now, and could peak around late 2012, according to estimates. Which brings me to a point: Most solar flares and coronal mass ejections originate in magnetically active regions around visible sunspot groupings. Meaning where sunspots are, these are soon to follow.
A coronal mass ejection (CME) is an ejection of material from the solar corona, usually observed with a white-light coronagraph.
The ejected material is a plasma consisting primarily of electrons and protons (in addition to small quantities of heavier elements such as helium, oxygen, and iron.)
Now, normally CME's aren't a big issue. Earth's own magnetic field protects us, and deflect most of the CME away, or ground it towards Earth's north magnetic pole, generating the Northern Lights.
But here's a second part to it. The solar cycles are a cycle itself. Each peak of strength per cycle can generally get stronger and stronger, hit a peak, the get weaker and weaker, and we're due for a quite a decent one.
Now, CME's can, if an issue, cause some problems on Earth. They generally wreak havoc on electronic devices and can cause them to overload, and break. They can cause massive power outages, overall they just aren't a very nice thing.
But generally, big or small, not a big problem. But here's my part two.
Thing 2: Magnetic Pole Swap
Throughout history, sailors have depended on the North and South Magnetic Poles to guide them whilst at sea. They've been north and south for awhile, and scientists never thought much of it, until not so recently, when scientists examined ancient rocks and discovered that the magnetic pole actually has switched a few times in Earth's history, and is due to switch again. The switch roughly every 250,000 years, and its been 780,000 since out last. We're overdue.
Now, due to this switch, Earth's magnetic field is weakening. It has weakened 10% over the past 150 years, which is extremely significant. Scientists believed a few years ago that this switch would have happened years and years from now, but now recent studies show this magnetic reversal could happen very soon. Some point to as early as 2012.
Some information on it can be found here.
A key quote from here is this:
"It is in this region that the shielding effect of the magnetic field is severely reduced, thus allowing high energy particles of the hard radiation belt to penetrate deep into the upper atmosphere to altitudes below a hundred kilometers (62 miles)," Mandea said.
Starting to piece it together?
Tying It Together
Make this a mental example. A dam is built to protect a city underneath. Overtime, a dam is renovated and kept safe, as to not erode and break. Think of this dam as Earth's Magnetic Field, and the city below as Earth.
Overtime, a dam will weaken. As is our field. A few leaks may spring up in the dam, but nothing seriously dangerous. But as our dam (field) weakens more and more, further and further damage is done to the city, until... well, you know.
A weakening field is EXTREMELY serious. Some scientists say it may not be Magnetic Reversal at all, and that its just weakening. One this is for certain however, it is weakening.
Now, lets go back to our dam. Say somewhere up the river, another dam breaks, releasing a surge of water and pressure on the already weakening dam. This is the equivalent of a massive CME. I'll let you decide what may happen.
Consequences
A variety of things may result:
- A radiation burst may leak through our O-Zone layer, causing many cases of cancer.
- It may alter our own atmosphere, changing its composition.
- It may destroy various satellites, rendering many ways of communication useless.
- A massive outbreak of evolution is generally related with magnetic reversals
- Birds, fish, and any other animals who use the Magnetic north and south pole will be harmfully effected, possibly altering the food chain on a huge scale
-Nothing at all.
And each consequence may have a list of its own. And there could be a mix of any two or more.
Of course, this is all theory. I mean not to scare anyone into thinking the Earth is doomed, because by no means has that been proven, or it that even my belief. I just wished to bring aware and discuss such events.
Whew, that took some time. Now, I'd like to make aware to all that I devised this by myself, while thinking about the two reacting to each other. I see there are many who have thought of the same thing, but I wish to let everyone know that I didn't look into such sites.
Discuss?
.
