Part of Earth's Magnetic Field is Getting Weaker in 'Vigorously' Developing Anomaly, Scientists Say

newsweek. ^ | 5/22/20 | Hannah Osborne

[BenLurkin]

Using satellite data, researchers believe an "anomaly" in the South Atlantic may have split in two, with the eastern section "developing vigorously."

Earth's magnetic field is generated by movements within the planet's molten iron core. ...When the magnetic field is stronger, it blocks more radiation. When it is weaker, more radiation reaches the planet's surface.

The magnetic field is constantly moving. It strengthens and weakens as part of normal fluctuations. According to the European Space Agency, the magnetic field has lost around 9 percent of its strength over the preceding two centuries. One section of the magnetic field has been found to have weakened considerably since 1970.

This patch, called the South Atlantic Anomaly, sits between Africa and South America. Over the last 50 years, it has grown and moved farther west at a rate of roughly 12 miles per hour. However, in the last five years, part of the anomaly appears to have split off into a cell which the ESA calls a "second center of minimum intensity" located southwest of Africa.

Matzka said the South Atlantic Anomaly is caused by parts of Earth's core that sit beneath South Africa, the South Atlantic and South America, where the geomagnetic field is going into the wrong direction.

"We call these areas 'reversed flux patches,'" he said. "The 'normal flux patches' produce the field that we measure at the surface, while the reversed flux patches decrease it, causing the low field intensity in the anomaly. So there must be further reversed flux patches at the core of the earth that cause the split into different cells at the surface."

"Even the International Space Station has to have extra radiation shielding to protect the astronauts on-board when it passes through this region," Case said. "As the anomaly expands, and the field weakens

[1FreeAmerican]

“We call these areas ‘reversed flux patches,’”...

I get these on my a$$ once in a while...such a pain.

[aimhigh]

The magnetic field is constantly moving. It strengthens and weakens

The real cause of climate change.

[TexasTransplant]

I always appreciate a vigorous weakening

[minnesota_bound]

Perhaps the gov’t can order all of us to get on bicycles with electric generators and we can pedal and pedal to restore the magnetic field.....