Posted on 10/14/2025 12:31:27 PM PDT by Red Badger
Scientists have discovered that a 'weak spot' in Earth's magnetic field is growing at an alarming rate.
Known as the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), the region has expanded by an area nearly twice the size of Texas since 2014, and it is also slowly shifting westward toward Africa, according to a new study released on Monday.
The SAA has increased by up to 25 percent, as it moves about 14 miles west each year.
The expansion and movement are the result of turbulent flows of molten iron in Earth’s outer core, which generate unusual magnetic patterns that weaken the field in this part of the planet.
The Earth’s magnetic field, created by the swirling liquid iron thousands of miles beneath the surface, acts as a protective shield against dangerous charged particles from the sun and cosmic radiation.
Scientists warned that the weakening and shifting of this shield in the SAA is not just a scientific curiosity but has real-world consequences.
The SAA poses the greatest threat to satellites passing overhead, exposing spacecraft to higher levels of radiation that can temporarily disable electronics, corrupt data, or even cause permanent damage to critical hardware.
Satellites providing GPS, communications, and weather forecasting services for the US and around the world are particularly vulnerable when they pass through the anomaly.
Lead author Chris Finlay, Professor of Geomagnetism at the Technical University of Denmark, said in a statement: 'It's changing differently towards Africa than it is near South America.
'There's something special happening in this region that is causing the field to weaken in a more intense way.'
While regions outside of Earth contribute to the observed magnetic field, the primary source stems from inside the planet.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
So it’s not actually mysterious. I never could have guessed that.
“The expansion and movement are the result of turbulent flows of molten iron in Earth’s outer core…”
Yep. Thank you. And the movie "Krakatoa, east of Java"? Yep. Its west of Java.
I would bet my bottom dollar they used AI to write the article. heh.
“There’s a magnetic pole flip that is due any century now.”
Yep, a physical flip causing crustal displacement. Ancient tradition claims that the Sun once rose from the West before the last world destruction.
Why is this reminding me of the “ozone hole” panic from the 80’s?
Anything in the Atlantic is already west of Africa.
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I’m glad you figured it out.
The solution is simple. Ban iron.
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