The predictions of Walt Brown

Walt Brown and reversals? Hmm, I've had this conversation before.CheersJoe MeertThis message has been edited by Joe Meert, 01-20-2005 18:25 AM

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Walt Brown was an evolutionists but came to the Lord based on the geography topography of the earth, that the Flood happened. (God works in mysterious ways. Did Darwin even have a scientific degree, yet you all consider him one of your greatest scientists. Wonders never cease.

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JM: Actually that's not quite true if you read his bio carefully.CheersJoe Meert

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Ned, Ok since you understand magnetics please explain how turtles using magnetics can triangulate a small island in the ocean by magnetics. If magnetics is simply north and south how are they finding east and west

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JM: If I may interject here. THe Earth's magnetic field is not simply a north-south thing. It is a vector composed of declination (the angle between magnetic north and your position), inclination (dip of the magnetic field) and strength. Inclination varies with latitude and also (because the magfield is not symmetric with the geographic north pole) it varies with longitude as does declination and total field strength. Now, I don't know specifically which turtles are using magnetism for migration or if they use ONLY magnetism for their migratio , but unless the islands lie perfectly along isogons or isoclines of declination and inclination, there will be variations in both (as well as field strength).CheersJoe MeertPS: Just did a quick search on some sea turtles. They do, as I guessed, use inclination and field strength as a means for navigation.This message has been edited by Joe Meert, 01-21-2005 09:03 AM

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It's because the magnetic poles aren't at the true (spin} poles of the Earth.

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JM: I even mentioned that! Here's a pretty good summary of the topichttp://www.geocities.com/magnetic_declination/#DECLINATIONCheersJoe Meert

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It's because the magnetic poles aren't at the true (spin} poles of the Earth.

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JM: I even mentioned that! Here's a pretty good summary of the topichttp://www.geocities.com/magnetic_declination/#DECLINATIONCheersJoe Meert

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It says, "But since the Earth's field is the effect of complex convection currents in the magma..."

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JM: oops, I didn't catch that I was looking for another explanation of declination and inclination. In reading that, it appears as if the writer is talking about the mantle and that is incorrect.CheersJoe MeertPS: I have no idea how I double posted!

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If the magnetic field enters the earth at different latitudes in respect to the angle of true north/south. Then your magnetic expressions should of captured the east west and north south declinations angles.

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If the poles actually switched you'd think there would be massive east west differences in respect to north or south. Does the east west declination angle change much if any between reversals?

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JM: Indeed, they do. There is still some disagreement about whether or not there are preferred paths, but high resolution paleomagnetic studies document these swings in declination. I'll try to dig up a figure of it, but you are 100% correct in your deduction.CheersJoe Meert

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Also, I think it was Walt who mentioned the magnetic field of earth is weaker now than thousands of years ago, and is continuing to get less, is this part right?

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JM: Walt may have said that, but the information was present in the geological literature...and if he did indeed say 'thousands of years ago' then he did not even read the geological literature correctly.CheersJoe Meert

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Brian,
Have you ever encountered a student like Tom in real life? The guy is amazing! But how would you grade him?

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lfen

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JM: Not that the question was asked of me, but I've encountered a number of students like Tom. What I like is that they are inquisitive about the fundamental aspects of science. What I don't enjoy is that they are not all that interested in the answers!CheersJoe Meert

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I haven't graded any science papers, are they graded by knowledge and understanding as well?

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Have you passed any papers of the students you have met that are similar to Tom?

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JM: Good question. In general, the papers I've asked students to write come near the end of the course. At that point, they should have some basic understanding of the concepts they are writing about. If I asked for a paper at the beginning of the course, they might not have the same understanding. So, I think I would grade based upon their knowledge and understanding at the time they wrote the paper. I also like students who (independently) question fundamental assumptions of the science. I've met precious few of these types at the beginning levels, but they are there. I've met far more who question fundamental assumptions based on their preconceived biases. I'm familiar enough with the creationist arguments (there are very few new arguments) that I can smell a creationist web-based paper a mile away. Those papers are likely to fail because it's clear that the thoughts are not the students. However, a detailed paper questioning a fundamental assumption that shows independent thought would get a much better grade even if it turned out that they were questioning the fundamentals based on a small miunderstanding. When it becomes clear that the questioner has no interest in hearing possible answers, then I usually stop listening to the questions.CheersJoe Meert