CATACLYSMIC POLARITY SHIFT IS U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY PREPARED FOR THE NEXT GEOMAGNETIC POLE REVERSAL
The Earth's core is undergoing a dramatic change with geomagnetic field strength dropping by 40 percent over the last 400 years, and satellite observations showing the field weakening ten times faster than previously calculated. These changes are a precursor to a common geological phenomenon kn...
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ftdtic:AD1040918 2023-05-15T16:19:40+02:00 CATACLYSMIC POLARITY SHIFT IS U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY PREPARED FOR THE NEXT GEOMAGNETIC POLE REVERSAL Williams,Tyler J AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE MAXWELL AFB United States 2015-12-01 text/html http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD1040918 http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD1040918 en eng http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD1040918 Approved For Public Release; Government and Political Science Geology Geochemistry and Mineralogy United States government National security POLARITY space weather magnetic fields GEODYNAMICS coronal mass ejections electrical grids weather forecasting CME(coronal mass ejection) Text 2015 ftdtic 2017-11-05T15:49:38Z The Earth's core is undergoing a dramatic change with geomagnetic field strength dropping by 40 percent over the last 400 years, and satellite observations showing the field weakening ten times faster than previously calculated. These changes are a precursor to a common geological phenomenon known as a geomagnetic polarity reversal, where the north and south magnetic poles of the Earth reverse. Geomagnetic polarity reversals significantly decrease the strength of the magnetic field, thereby considerably increasing the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's atmosphere and biosphere. The purpose of this research is to answer if the United States is prepared for the impacts to national security resulting from the next geomagnetic polarity reversal. The report begins with an overview of pole reversals, then evaluates the effects of reversals on United States national security by utilizing six evaluation criteria ranging from infrastructure areas such as the electrical power grid to national response capabilities. The research evaluates the impacts of increases in solar and cosmic radiation and the threat of adverse space weather during a polarity transition on United States national security. This research concluded that the nation is not prepared for both geomagnetic polarity reversals and adverse space weather. Furthermore, the nation has neglected funding for geoscience and geomagnetism research. Based on the conclusions, this research recommends increasing geoscience and geomagnetism funding, spearheading an international geomagnetic initiative, developing response, recovery and risk plans at the national level and preparing the national infrastructure for the threats posed by pole reversals. Text Geomagnetic Pole Defense Technical Information Center: DTIC Technical Reports database |
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Defense Technical Information Center: DTIC Technical Reports database |
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ftdtic |
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English |
topic |
Government and Political Science Geology Geochemistry and Mineralogy United States government National security POLARITY space weather magnetic fields GEODYNAMICS coronal mass ejections electrical grids weather forecasting CME(coronal mass ejection) |
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Government and Political Science Geology Geochemistry and Mineralogy United States government National security POLARITY space weather magnetic fields GEODYNAMICS coronal mass ejections electrical grids weather forecasting CME(coronal mass ejection) Williams,Tyler J CATACLYSMIC POLARITY SHIFT IS U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY PREPARED FOR THE NEXT GEOMAGNETIC POLE REVERSAL |
topic_facet |
Government and Political Science Geology Geochemistry and Mineralogy United States government National security POLARITY space weather magnetic fields GEODYNAMICS coronal mass ejections electrical grids weather forecasting CME(coronal mass ejection) |
description |
The Earth's core is undergoing a dramatic change with geomagnetic field strength dropping by 40 percent over the last 400 years, and satellite observations showing the field weakening ten times faster than previously calculated. These changes are a precursor to a common geological phenomenon known as a geomagnetic polarity reversal, where the north and south magnetic poles of the Earth reverse. Geomagnetic polarity reversals significantly decrease the strength of the magnetic field, thereby considerably increasing the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's atmosphere and biosphere. The purpose of this research is to answer if the United States is prepared for the impacts to national security resulting from the next geomagnetic polarity reversal. The report begins with an overview of pole reversals, then evaluates the effects of reversals on United States national security by utilizing six evaluation criteria ranging from infrastructure areas such as the electrical power grid to national response capabilities. The research evaluates the impacts of increases in solar and cosmic radiation and the threat of adverse space weather during a polarity transition on United States national security. This research concluded that the nation is not prepared for both geomagnetic polarity reversals and adverse space weather. Furthermore, the nation has neglected funding for geoscience and geomagnetism research. Based on the conclusions, this research recommends increasing geoscience and geomagnetism funding, spearheading an international geomagnetic initiative, developing response, recovery and risk plans at the national level and preparing the national infrastructure for the threats posed by pole reversals. |
author2 |
AIR COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE MAXWELL AFB United States |
format |
Text |
author |
Williams,Tyler J |
author_facet |
Williams,Tyler J |
author_sort |
Williams,Tyler J |
title |
CATACLYSMIC POLARITY SHIFT IS U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY PREPARED FOR THE NEXT GEOMAGNETIC POLE REVERSAL |
title_short |
CATACLYSMIC POLARITY SHIFT IS U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY PREPARED FOR THE NEXT GEOMAGNETIC POLE REVERSAL |
title_full |
CATACLYSMIC POLARITY SHIFT IS U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY PREPARED FOR THE NEXT GEOMAGNETIC POLE REVERSAL |
title_fullStr |
CATACLYSMIC POLARITY SHIFT IS U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY PREPARED FOR THE NEXT GEOMAGNETIC POLE REVERSAL |
title_full_unstemmed |
CATACLYSMIC POLARITY SHIFT IS U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY PREPARED FOR THE NEXT GEOMAGNETIC POLE REVERSAL |
title_sort |
cataclysmic polarity shift is u.s. national security prepared for the next geomagnetic pole reversal |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD1040918 http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD1040918 |
genre |
Geomagnetic Pole |
genre_facet |
Geomagnetic Pole |
op_relation |
http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD1040918 |
op_rights |
Approved For Public Release; |
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1766006082027651072 |