HSP 124-02
Albion College
Fall 02021
Discussion Questions for PT, Chapter 6


1. What's the point of finding out things like the emperor event and the Brunhes-Matuyama boundary when it was ages ago, we still don't fully understand if it affects us, and we still don't fully understand how magnetic reversals happen?  As a follow up, how can we have this much data and research and still have no idea how a magnetic reversal happens?

2. If we've pretty accurately determined that magnetic reversals are time based, can we mathematically determine an estimate as to when the next one will take place? 

3. Will the earth's magnetic field ever deteriorate enough to put us in serious danger of the sun's radiation? If so, do you think we'll have the necessary technology by then to protect us? Or will the heat death of the universe happen first? Or will the sun expand first? 

4. Could geologists have the answer to the energy crisis, or is that a job for a chemist?

5. How can lava be thermally magnetized?

6. On page 98, " the Japanese scientists, being intellectual descendants of Matuyama, were inclined to favor reversal of the main field and were embarrassed to find this self-reversing rock". Why would this scientist, if not generalized as all, be so strong on their previous "views" once coming across evidence?