NASA tracks enigmatic anomaly in Earth's magnetic field

For years, NASA has been studying the mysterious magnetic anomaly known as the South Atlantic Anomaly, which occurs in the area between South America and southwestern Africa. It is a zone of reduced intensity in Earth's magnetic field.

Although the anomaly does not threaten life on our planet, it poses a challenge for satellites and spacecraft that must pass through it. In the weakened magnetic field, there's a risk of damage to the technological systems of the satellites.

High-energy protons from the Sun can cause short circuits and other malfunctions, forcing operators to turn off equipment during flights through this zone. NASA treats research on the anomaly both as a technological challenge and as an opportunity to explore the processes that generate Earth's magnetic field.

Geophysicist Terry Sabaka from NASA explains that Earth's magnetic field is mainly generated by the movement of liquid iron in the planet's outer core, and the anomaly may be the result of disturbances caused by the presence of dense rocks beneath Africa. Interestingly, research indicates that the South Atlantic Anomaly is not only slowly shifting but may also split into two parts. There is evidence that similar phenomena occurred millions of years ago.

Although the anomaly does not signal a reversal of the magnetic poles, scientists are studying its impact on the auroras. The portal sciencealert.com emphasises the need for continuous observation of this phenomenon. Terry Sabaka notes that ongoing research missions allow the development of models and better prediction of future changes in Earth's magnetic field, which is important for understanding this fascinating phenomenon.