In recent years, some researchers have suggested that Earth’s magnetic field could be about to flip for the first time in more than 700,000 years.
It is a moment that could bring chaos to our connected world, but new research from the University of Liverpool suggests that a “change” is not going to happen anytime soon.
The researchers analyzed the anomaly of the South Atlantic (a magnetic “weak point” on the ocean) and discovered that it has existed for 11 million years, and does not represent an imminent inversion of the Earth’s magnetic field.
The South Atlantic anomaly is an area with a significant reduction in the intensity of the Earth’s magnetic field, compared to areas at similar latitudes.
Within the area, protection from harmful radiation from space is reduced, causing technical failure on board satellites and spacecraft.
Some scientists have suggested that it represents the beginning of total field weakening and a possible near pole reversal.
The lead author of the paper, University of Liverpool PhD student Yael Engbers said: “Our study provides the first long-term analysis of the magnetic field in this region dating back millions of years.
The researchers analyzed rocks from the British island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic Ocean. (Getty)
“It reveals that the anomaly in the magnetic field in the South Atlantic is not unique, similar anomalies existed eight to 11 million years ago.”
“This is the first time that irregular behavior of the geomagnetic field in the South Atlantic region has been demonstrated on such a long time scale.” It suggests that the South Atlantic anomaly is a recurring feature and is probably not a sign of an impending reversal.
Research by the University of Liverpool has revealed that the strange behavior of the magnetic field in the South Atlantic region existed for eight to 11 million years.
Paleomagnetic researchers from Liverpool analyzed the record of the Earth’s magnetic field preserved in igneous rocks on St. Helena Island, which lies in the middle of the South Atlantic anomaly.
