Space Exploration
Earth’s Magnetic field is weakening: Scientists don’t know why!!!
2020 has become a
year full of surprises and threats to our civilisation. Ranging from ongoing
coronavirus pandemic to discovery of closest black hole and sun going into solar minimum state thus created a possibility of a mini ice age.
Now, another event
has been added to the list and this time it’s our own protective shield.
We all have read
about Earth’s magnetic field and how it protects us from cosmic radiation and
charged particles from the sun. Just imagine the catastrophic effects, if it is
not present.
Well, no one
correctly knows the exact reason behind the creation of this field in the first
place but, the most widely accepted theory is that the magnetic field is
generally produced by an expanse of superheated, whirling fluid iron which is
present in the centre around 3000 km below.
Earth's layers |
What is happening
with Earth’s Magnetic field???
Well, from the title may figure out the answer but, you can’t figure out the reason behind it.
So, let’s discuss the reasons behind it….
Earth’s magnetic
field can be imagined like a big bar magnet placed inside the Earth which is
titled at around 11 degrees to the axis of rotation. Over the last 200 years, Earth’s
magnetic field has lost around 9% of its strength.
According to the
recent data from the Swarm probes, in an area stretching from South America to
Africa, Earth’s magnetic field is gradually weakening and this causes technical
disturbances in satellites orbiting Earth. Scientist termed it as ‘South
Atlantic Anomaly’ or (SAA).
South Atlantic Anomaly |
After rigorous research, experts are speculating that the current weakening of the field is a sign of an eminent pole reversal of Earth. Pole reversal means that the north and south magnetic poles switch places.
Pole reversals are
not new to Earth. Throughout the history of our planet, such events have occurred
several times. Last time it occurred around 780,000 years ago. A team of
researchers used volcanic records to study last reversal. Some sources claim
that last pole reversal took about 7000 years to complete the process. Other
sources claim that it took a much longer time. Pole reversal take place roughly
every 250,000 years.
This process of
flipping could occur more frequently than people think but no one knows the
correct rate.
Outer and inner Radiation belt with the location of SAA |
Since 1970, this ‘anomaly’ region is growing in size and it’s also moving westwards. It is moving with a pace of approximately 20 km/year. After getting the recent data from Swarm probes, it is also observed that a new minimum is created in that region. Now, scientists believe that this region is going to split into two separate regions. One region (the original one) will be on South America and the new one will be on Southwest Africa.
The following video shows South Atlantic Anomaly impact radiation (source: ESA) :
For now, at
surface level it is not causing any harm and isn’t creating an alarming
situation. But, the satellites passing through that region are facing serious
technical problems!!!
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Thanks for reading.....
See you next time!!!
-Ratnadeep Das Choudhury
Founder and Writer of The Dynamic Frequency
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