South Atlantic magnetic anomaly challenges NASA's satellites

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 of 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 these satellites.

High-energy protons from the Sun can cause short circuits and other malfunctions, forcing operators to power down equipment during flights through this zone. NASA considers research on the anomaly both a technological challenge and 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 result from disturbances caused by dense rocks beneath Africa. Interestingly, research indicates that the South Atlantic Anomaly is slowly shifting and may also split into two parts. There's 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 auroras. The portal sciencealert.com emphasizes the need for continuous observation of this phenomenon. Terry Sabaka notes that ongoing research missions allow models to be developed and better predict future changes in Earth's magnetic field, which is important for understanding this fascinating phenomenon.