The Fading of Earth's Magnetic Field is Accelerating

[The Cub]

Satellites and spacecraft malfunction as Earth's magnetic field mysteriously weakens

Scientists are finding that the weakening is causing technical problems for satellites, and seems to be growing in its effects.

Thursday 21 May 2020 14:55, UK



Image: Auroras are caused by the Earth's magnetic field - which is mysteriously weakening


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Earth's magnetic field, which is vital to protecting life on our planet from solar radiation, is mysteriously weakening.
On average the planet's magnetic field has lost almost 10% of its strength over the last two centuries, but there is a large localised region of weakness stretching from Africa to South America.

Known as the South Atlantic Anomaly, the field strength in this area has rapidly shrunk over the past 50 years just as the area itself has grown and moved westward.

Image: The magnetic field protects life on Earth from radiation
Over the past five years a second centre of minimum intensity has developed southwest of Africa, which researchers believe indicates the anomaly could split into two separate cells.
The anomaly is causing technical difficulties for satellites orbiting the Earth.

European Space Agency (ESA) scientists from the Swarm Data, Innovation and Science Cluster (DISC) are using data from ESA's Swarm satellite constellation to study the anomaly.

Swarm satellites are designed to identify and precisely measure the different magnetic signals that make up Earth's magnetic field.

Dr Jurgen Matzka, from the German Research Centre for Geosciences, said: "The new, eastern minimum of the South Atlantic Anomaly has appeared over the last decade and in recent years is developing vigorously.

"We are very lucky to have the Swarm satellites in orbit to investigate the development of the South Atlantic Anomaly. The challenge now is to understand the processes in Earth's core driving these changes."

One speculation is that the weakening of the field is a sign that the Earth is heading for a pole reversal - in which the north and south magnetic poles flip.

This flip doesn't happen immediately, but instead would occur over the course of a couple of centuries during which there would be multiple north and south magnetic poles all around the globe.

"Such events have occurred many times throughout the planet's history," said ESA, noting "we are long overdue by the average rate at which these reversals take place (roughly every 250,000 years)".


Image: ESA's Swarm probes are being used to analyse the anomaly

That said, the space agency also noted that the dip occurring in the South Atlantic was "well within what is considered normal levels of fluctuations".

For people on the surface the anomaly is unlikely to cause any alarm, but satellites and other spacecraft flying through the area are experiencing technical malfunctions.

Because the magnetic field is weaker in the region, charged particles from the cosmos can penetrate through to the altitudes that low-Earth orbiting satellites fly at.

"The mystery of the origin of the South Atlantic Anomaly has yet to be solved," added ESA.

"However, one thing is certain: magnetic field observations from Swarm are providing exciting new insights into the scarcely understood processes of Earth's interior."

https://news.sky.com/story/earths-ma...ening-11992022

[The Cub]

Magnetosphere Weakening: SOUTH ATLANTIC ANOMALY SPLITTING IN TWO

IS THE SOUTH ATLANTIC ANOMALY SPLITTING IN TWO?

Tuesday, May. 26, 2020
New data from Europe's Swarm satellites show something strange is afoot in Earth's magnetic field. The South Atlantic Anomaly might be splitting in two. "A new, eastern minimum of the South Atlantic Anomaly has appeared over the last decade," says Jürgen Matzka, from the German Research Center for Geosciences. "In recent years it has been developing vigorously."

https://vimeo.com/421674595

Above: Development of the South Atlantic Anomaly from 2014 to 2020. Credit: ESA/Swarm. [more]

The South Atlantic Anomaly is a weak spot in Earth's magnetic field centered roughly on the Atlantic side of South America. Discovered in 1958, it has been growing and shifting for decades. The latest data from Swarm show a new weak spot forming just off the southern tip of Africa.

"We are very lucky to have the Swarm satellites in orbit to investigate this development," says Matzka.

Launched in November 2013, Swarm is a constellation of 3 identical satellites flying in formation around Earth. They are equipped with magnetometers, star trackers and other instruments, which allow the satellites to make exquisitely detailed 3D measurements of Earth's magnetic field. The possible splitting of the Anomaly is just one of the mission's many significant findings.

Researchers have long known that Earth's magnetic field is weakening. Over the last 200 years, the globally averaged magnetic field has lost around 9% of its strength, with the South Atlantic Anomaly leading the way. From 1970 to 2020, the minimum field strength in this area dropped from 24,000 nanoteslas to 22,000.

https://vimeo.com/421675340

Above: Radiation strikes detected by Swarm are concentrated in the South Atlantic Anomaly. Credit: ESA

As the South Atlantic Anomaly has weakened, the inner Van Allen Belt has spilled into it, allowing energetic particles (especially protons) to get within 200 km of Earth's surface. This poses little threat to people on the ground, but spacecraft aren't so lucky. When satellites fly through the Anomaly, they are exposed to relatively strong radiation. Onboard computers may reboot and digital cameras can be fogged by streaks of charged particles flying through them. The ISS has extra shielding to deal with this problem, and the Hubble Space Telescope doesn't even bother to make observations when it is inside the Anomaly.

If the South Atlantic Anomaly eventually splits into two cells, satellite mission planners will have to contend with a new zone of high radiation. The splitting is more than just a nuisance, however. It could offer clues to the origin of the Anomaly itself. Earth's magnetic field is created by currents of superheated liquid iron swirling ~3000 km beneath our feet. Changes "up here" can tell researchers what's going on "down there."

Stay tuned for updates as the Swarm mission continues.

https://spaceweather.com/

[The Cub]

Further to our previous writings on the thinning of the Earth’s magnetosphere, the forth coming flip of the poles and the Day of the Lord, we submit a very short update in the video below. But first, we revisit John’s Apocalypse:


“The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch men with fire; men were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory.” (Rv 16:8-9)


Video update addressing the increasing holes in the Earth’s ozone at the poles:

The Pole Shift Is Destroying The Ozone
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7wTZcEIVOo



For a review of what is taking place within the core of the Earth, and what is coming, watch NOVA’s documentary entitled: Magnetic Storm.