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The bizarre finding, which sends compasses into an uncontrollable spin, had scientists baffled – while locals linked it to Hawaiian folklore which attaches deep spiritual significance to the massive volcano which is almost one million years old. But now the reason for the magnetic volte-face has been explained – and it’s even more mind-blowing. According to geologists the molten rock below the Mount Kilauea caldera contains vast amounts of iron and is effectively a sea of floating magnets. About 780,000 years ago the rock cooled and simultaneously the Earth’s magnetic field inexplicably FLIPPED – the South Pole became the North and the North Pole became the South.

Hawaii latest: Compasses are being sent crazy by the anomaly



But the sea of iron magnets below Mount Kilauea were now cooled and trapped in the now solid rock – with their poles facing the opposite way to everything else on the planet. Studies into lava flows both below and above the Earth’s surface are slowly unlocking the reasons why the planet’s field flips every so often. Brad Singer, a geology professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, who investigates lava flow magnetic fields, said: “When the lava flows erupt and cool in the Earth’s magnetic field, they acquire a memory of the magnetic field at that time. “It’s very difficult to destroy that in a lava flow once it’s formed. You then have a recording of what the paleofield direction was like on Earth.”

Experts have explained the reason for the response

Hawaii volcano eruption: 100 striking pictures show horror of Kilauea's eruption Thu, June 28, 2018 Staggering images show the sheer scale of the Hawaiian Kilauea volcano as lava and hazardous fumes continue to spew Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 100 Lava entering the sea and releasing multiple laze plumes at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

Historic records show that the strength of the magnetic field is declining very rapidly Hawaii volcano expert



He added that the flip occurs during periods of declining strength of the Earth’s magnetic field and that the planet was rapidly approaching another one. Co-researcher Kenneth Hoffman California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and UW–Madison who has been researching field reversals for over 30 years. Hoffman and Singer are focusing on rocks that contain evidence of times that the main north-south field has weakened, which is one sign that the polarity may flip direction. Singer said: “Current evidence suggests we are now approaching one of these transitional states because the main magnetic field is relatively weak and rapidly decreasing.

Scientists were originally baffled by the situation