Too many people confuse a magnetic pole shift with a flip of the earths axis of rotation.
As phage has said magnetic polarity reversal is a fact.
It has been shown in rocks of various types, at one time not sure of the exact time, but the polarity flipped on an almost daily basis.
There are regions in the indian ocean and atlantic where the polarity has already shifted and there are places where there in no polarity.
I know I'm jumping to conclusions but I think of Earth's magnetic field as being dynamic, having peaks and valleys in striated patterns
across the globe
Yes the magnetic field is very dynamic, with variations in field strength and polarity all across the globe.
The mechanism for polarity reversal has been explored by a new theory, that explains a lot of loose ends about the earth.
In this theory the earths core is comprised two distinct structures, an outer core comprised of an iron/nickel/silicon alloy that counter rotates
against the inner core, that is a 5 mile diameter ball of uranium.
The heat from radioactive decay keeps the outer core molten,
The motion of the outer core generates tremendous electtrical fields that in turn produces the earths magnetic field.
One of the things that has puzzled geophysicists is the apperant lack of enough energy to have kept the core molten for the last 4.6 billion
years.
the tidal energies of planetary motion arent enough to have kept the earths core molten.
At the interface of the inner and outer core, a material forms called uranium silicide. Uranium silicide has an interesting property, its non
magnetic and and magnetic fields will not propagate through it.
As it forms it builds up unevenly, eventually it will complete surround the core, as it does it blocks the magnetic field, by varying degrees thus
causing weak and reversed areas of polarity.
GTG and avoid my exwife I'll finish later.