Magnetic reversal 42,000 years ago triggered climate change - Daily Mail

A reversal of the magnetic poles 42,000 years ago triggered catastrophic climate change and may have wiped out Neanderthals, a new study shows.

The trees revealed spikes in atmospheric radiocarbon levels, caused by the collapse of Earth's magnetic field and changing solar winds.

But preceding the flip was a weakening of the magnetic fields, causing electrical storms, crimson skies, widespread auroras and lethal cosmic radiation that frazzled our early ancestors and the Earth's wildlife.  .

Preceding the flip was a weakening of the magnetic fields, causing electrical storms, crimson skies and lethal cosmic radiation that frazzled our early ancestors and the Earth's wildlife.

'Earth's magnetic field dropped to only 0 to 6 per cent strength during the Adams Event,' said Professor Turney.

Even though a GSM means less activity on the Sun's surface, the weakening of its magnetic field can mean more space weather – like solar flares and galactic cosmic rays – could head Earth's way.

The Earth's magnetic field regularly flips poles every few hundred thousand years.

The only other notable impact of a weakening magnetic field would be auroras at lower latitudes. .

While the magnetic poles often wander, scientists are concerned about the current rapid movement of the north magnetic pole across the Northern Hemisphere.

'This speed – alongside the weakening of Earth's magnetic field by around 9 per cent in the past 170 years – could indicate an upcoming reversal,' said Professor Cooper.

Usually confined to the polar northern and southern parts of the globe, the colourful sights would have been widespread during the breakdown of Earth's magnetic field.

Earth's magnetic field is created by the movement of liquid iron in the Earth's outer core, some 1,800 miles below our feet

As the liquid flows, it drags the magnetic field with it – and its corresponding North and South poles

These magnetic North and South Poles are different from the geographic North and South poles

The geographic North and South poles are in a fixed position and are diametrically opposite one another

The magnetic field is still constantly changing today and satellites are providing new means to measure and track its current shifts.  

Scientists already knew the magnetic poles temporarily flipped somewhere between 41,000 and 42,000 years ago, in an event called the Laschamps Excursion

'The Laschamps Excursion was the last time the magnetic poles flipped,' said Professor Turney. 

The team identified a significant increase in atmospheric radiocarbon during the period of weakening magnetic field strength that preceded polarity reversal. 

By modelling the consequences of this increase, they found that the geomagnetic field minimum (when Earth's magnetic field only around 6 per cent of what it is today) triggered huge changes in atmospheric ozone concentration and circulation. 

Our planet's magnetic field is believed to be generated deep down in the Earth's core

The spiralling caused by the Coriolis force means the separate magnetic fields are roughly aligned in the same direction, their combined effect adding up to produce one vast magnetic field engulfing the planet