•1 min read•from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily
A giant weak spot in Earth’s magnetic field is now half the size of Europe
Our take
Recent data from the European Space Agency's Swarm satellites reveal significant changes in Earth's magnetic field, particularly highlighting the South Atlantic Anomaly. This vast weak spot has expanded to nearly half the size of continental Europe since 2014. Additionally, a region southwest of Africa is experiencing accelerated weakening, suggesting unusual activity in Earth's molten outer core. These findings underscore the dynamic nature of our planet's magnetic shield and emphasize the need for ongoing research to understand the implications for both Earth and its inhabitants.
Earth’s magnetic shield is shifting in dramatic ways. New data from ESA’s Swarm satellites show that the South Atlantic Anomaly — a vast weak spot in Earth’s magnetic field — has grown by nearly half the size of continental Europe since 2014. Even more striking, a region southwest of Africa has begun weakening even faster in recent years, hinting at unusual activity deep within Earth’s molten outer core.
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