The South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly is strengthening over Brazil, according to the US and UK governments.
The intriguing South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (AMAS) is deepening and widening., causing growing concern among the scientific community. This is a phenomenon that affects the region over Brazil and the South Atlantichas a significantly weaker magnetic field of the Earth compared to other parts of the planet, which leads to critical consequences for navigation systems.
The exact cause of AMAS is still unknown, but the magnetic field strength there drops to a third of the global average.
According to the annual report for 2023 World magnetic model (WMM), prepared by the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the British Geological Survey (BGS), in 2023. There was a decrease in the magnetic field strength at the surface level of the AMAS. In addition, the center of the anomaly has shifted approximately 20 km to the west.. “The affected area, defined as the area within the 25,000 nT contour, has increased by approximately 7% since 2020,” the report highlights.
Impact on Brazil and global technology
Although the phenomenon does not pose a direct risk to human health or daily activities on landmay damage satellites and affect the propagation of radio waves.
Earth’s magnetic field: our cosmic shield against the relentless bombardment of the Sun by the solar wind.
Although the magnetic field protects us, some particles still cause auroras and geomagnetic storms.
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According to the report, “AMAS is deepening and moving westward, which has direct consequences for the radiation that can reach Earth. impact on satellites and radio propagation“
Based on what I explained The Epoch Timesthe anomaly directly affects South America, especially Brazil, where The lower magnetic field intensity exposes satellites and navigation systems to high levels of cosmic radiation..
Weakness of the magnetic field in this region can cause failures in electronic components and on-board systems, which will negatively impact critical communications and environmental monitoring technologies, which can lead to malfunctions of electronic components and on-board systems. cause frequent breakdowns and even equipment shutdowns.
Moreover, the anomaly affects the accuracy of navigation systems which depend on precise magnetic readings, like compasses.
A robust WMM model for estimating the Earth’s magnetic field
WMM is a spherical harmonic model of the Earth’s main magnetic field, developed in collaboration between NCEI and BGS. It is updated every five years to reflect changes in the magnetic field..
ANDThe center of the anomaly has moved approximately 20 km to the west.
“The accuracy of WMM2020 will be confirmed through 2024, with overall errors remaining well below the maximum values allowed by U.S. military specifications,” the report said. This indicates that The model remains a reliable tool for navigation and determination of position and direction, despite the differences observed in AMAS..
The data used to monitor and predict changes in the magnetic field is collected by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Swarm satellite constellation.. These data are critical to understanding the dynamics of AMAS and developing strategies to mitigate its negative effects.
Link to news:
State of the geomagnetic field – December 2023