Earth's shifting magnetic poles don't cause climate change—the ... - National Geographic
Earth's shifting magnetic poles don't cause climate change-the conspiracy theory debunked
When solar radiation and cosmic rays threaten to penetrate Earth’s surface, a vast magnetic field generated within Earth’s outer core safeguards the planet by deflecting harmful space energy. This is known as the magnetosphere.
Scientists know that the internal forces that generate Earth’s magnetic field can change and that the strength of the field oscillates over time. This can lead to gradual shifts in the intensity and location of Earth’s magnetic north and south poles and even reversals where Earth’s magnetic poles trade places.
But are these geomagnetic events responsible for extreme weather, extinction, and even disasters? Claims that Earth’s magnetic field is responsible for climate change are rampant online, but scientists say the theory has no merit.
“At
Related Knowledge Center: Climate: geoengineering
As the threat of climate change has gone from theoretical to apparent, proposals for a more aggressive attempt at mitigation through geoengineering have gained currency in some scientific corners, drawn skepticism or outright opposition in others. Prospects for geoengineering would likely improve in inverse proportion to prospects for nations to hit their emissions targets to slow, then reverse the warming of the planet.