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by divine_donkey on September 27th, 2007

divine_donkey

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What is a polar shift? Will it affect the Earth in any way?

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  • by Farino on September 27th, 2007

    Farino

    Polar shift is when the axis of the Earth shifts from 23.5 degreestowards the Sun at summer. This caused by centrifugal force. Have you ever seen a gyroscope spinning on a point? It's axis goes around and around. That's what happens to ALL rotating bodies, some more than others. Our planet's axis is shifting 23.5 degrees on one side to 23.5 degrees on the other. This will take about 26,000 years, Polaris won't be our Northern star until about AD 27,800 (for those working it out, Polaris isn't really our Northern star right now it's just the closest to being our Northern star).

    The only thing will will change is the months that the seasons will occur in. At the moment the Winter solstice is the 22nd of December. In about AD 8,300 Winter soltice will be either 20th March or 23rd September (Vernal equinox or Autumnal equinox), I say either because I do not know the direction of Earth's orbit round the Sun nor the direction of Earth's axis' rotation (can someone please clarify this point?). In about AD 14,800 the Winter solstice will be where the Summer solstice is 21st June. So it won't affect us geolocigally but it will affect us socially.

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