Geomagnetic anomalies in the Southern Hemisphere that pose a threat to satellites are a recurring phenomenon, according to research
The geomagnetic field protects Earth from harmful cosmic radiation. Over the past two centuries, this field has weakened, coinciding with the growth of the South Atlantic Anomaly—a region of reduced magnetic intensity spanning South America and the South Atlantic Ocean—which poses risks to satellites and space missions. Research led by a Spanish team shows that this anomaly is a recurring event on timescales ranging from centuries to millennia, according to a reconstruction of the geomagnetic field over the past 2,000 years. The study, published in PNAS, shows that the current anomaly emerged after the year 1100 in the Indian Ocean and crossed Africa before reaching South America.
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