[PUP] Satellite Compass

[Patrick Gerety]

----- Original Message ----
From: Mike Maurice <mikem@yachtsdelivered.com>
To:
Passagemaking Under Power List <passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 5, 2006 11:33:38 AM
Subject: Re: [PUP] Satellite
Compass


>magnetic compass technology might just become unusable if 
>the
magnetic field dies. And even if it does not die, it is fading and 
>that is
causing increased problems especially as one gets nearer the poles.

I was
watching a program on NOVA on PBS a couple of weeks ago, and it was talking
about this very thing.  Evidently, the positive and negative poles reverse
themselves every 10,000 years or so over the millinia and we are currently way
overdue.  Scientists think that we are in the process of reversing the poles
once again, that is, your compass will eventually point to the south pole.  In
the meantime, the magnetic field is becoming weaker through this process.  It
may be another 1000 years before the reversal becomes complete, scientists
just don't know.  Scientists cannot predict what this reversal may do to our
known quality of life.  It appears that many industries are being proactive
and are trying to figure out a better way to determine magnetic direction.
Patrick
Willard 40PH
ALOHA
La Paz, MX