----- 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