Chinese Scientists Discover Changes in Magnetic Field Intensity in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, Possibly Due to Magnetic Pole Reversal
The magnetic field above North America is weakening at an unusually fast rate while the magnetic field in the eastern hemisphere is strengthening, according to a research team led by Professor Fang Hanxian from the Chinese National Defense Technology University, as reported by Interesting Engineering on November 8. The scientists are working to identify the cause, but they believe it is related to the geomagnetic pole reversal from the western to the eastern hemisphere.
The magnetic field is a natural shield protecting the Earth from cosmic rays and harmful solar radiation. (Image: BBC)
Fang’s team utilized the latest models and data to reconstruct changes in magnetic field intensity since 1900. They found that from 1930 to 1990, the magnetic field intensity in North America increased significantly, surpassing many other regions around the globe. However, a reversal process has been occurring over the past 30 years. By 2020, the magnetic field intensity in this area had decreased to nearly the global average. This is a notable change. In addition to the weakening magnetic field in North America, the intensity in many other areas is showing signs of increase, including the Eurasian continent, Africa, Australia, and the North Atlantic, with Africa experiencing the fastest increase.
The scale and location of these magnetic anomalies are frequently changing. According to Fang, they are likely related to the drift of the magnetic poles. Over the past century, the magnetic pole in the northern hemisphere has gradually shifted eastward at a rate of 10 km per year. However, this process has significantly accelerated recently. After 2000, the rate increased to 50 km per year, far exceeding the movement rate of the magnetic pole in the southern hemisphere. Currently, the weakest area of the Earth’s magnetic field is located in the Atlantic Ocean, east of South America. Many space agencies, including NASA, are closely monitoring that region.
The geomagnetic field serves as a natural barrier protecting the Earth, preventing harmful cosmic rays from reaching the surface, thus playing a crucial role in maintaining environmental stability. In 2018, a study by the Autonomous University of Mexico found that the geomagnetic field had weakened for decades just before the collapse of the Maya civilization. Similarly, in 2006, researchers at the Paris Institute of Planetary Physics discovered sudden changes in the magnetic field related to the destruction of ancient civilizations in Iran and Syria around 4,000 years ago. Some scientists believe that the weakening of the Earth’s magnetic field not only leads to increased radiation but also causes disturbances in the atmospheric system due to cosmic rays, exacerbating extreme weather events such as droughts or storms.
