US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — For a century and a half, the magnetic field of our planet has been weakening. This is especially noticeable at the point of the South Atlantic anomaly, which stretches from Chile to Zimbabwe.
Interestingly, in several parts of the world, the intensity of the protective field, on the contrary, is increasing.
Over the past two decades, weakening has occurred by 1.7%, judging by the whole planet. In some areas, this figure is 10%. Scientists note that this happened before, for example, in the years 400-450, 700-750 and 1225-2550.
Experts believe that the changes are associated with the shift of a large amount of rock between the core and the mantle. The balance of iron, due to which the magnetic field is generated, is disturbed.
Magnetic anomalies cause a shift in the magnetic poles. Such events happen every 200,000-300,000 years. The experts found the date of the last case due to lava flows, which formed organic deposits.
It is lava flows that are ideal detectors of changes in the magnetic field, since when they solidify, they follow in its direction. As it turned out, the poles last underwent changes 780 thousand years ago. Soon the story should be repeated. It is impossible to say exactly whether mass extinctions of animals will follow. The last time they were gone.
—
Online:
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.
Contact us: [email protected]
The article is written and prepared by our foreign editors from different countries around the world – material edited and published by Ordo News staff in our US newsroom press.