Space's ‘Bermuda Triangle' growing as mysterious force under Earth's outer core may cripple International Space Station, NASA perplexed

Economic Times

3 days ago

TIL Creatives NASA and other space agencies are monitoring the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), where Earth's magnetic field is weaker. This allows high-energy particles to reach closer to the surface, affecting satellites and puzzling scientists.
Researchers at NASA and other space agencies have been closely tracking a growing disturbance in Earth's magnetic field, known as the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). This phenomenon, which affects a vast region stretching over South America and the South Atlantic Ocean, has been intensifying in recent years.
Earth's magnetic field is significantly weaker in the South Atlantic region, which allows high-energy particles to penetrate closer to the planet's surface. This disruption is affecting satellites and space missions and has puzzled scientists worldwide.
Also Read: Bigger than 5,000 Suns; here's why this massive near-earth space cloud remained hidden till now?The South Atlantic Anomaly refers to a specific area often regarded as the 'Bermuda triangle of space,' where Earth's magnetic field is significantly weaker than elsewhere. The magnetic field is like an invisible shield that protects the planet from harmful solar radiation and charged particles from space. In the SAA region, this shield thins out, allowing high-energy particles to get much closer to the Earth's surface than usual. This doesn't directly threaten people on the ground, but it creates serious challenges for spacecraft, satellites, and astronauts passing through the area.
The cause of the anomaly lies deep beneath the Earth's surface. Scientists believe it's linked to complex activity in the planet's outer core. This core is made up of molten iron and nickel, and as these materials move, they generate the Earth's magnetic field, a process known as the geodynamo. But this system isn't perfectly balanced. One contributing factor to the SAA is that the magnetic axis (the imaginary line connecting the Earth's magnetic north and south) is tilted compared to the planet's spin axis. This natural tilt weakens the field in certain places.
Also Read: Nuclear war or asteroid strike will not end life on Earth; NASA-backed study reveals the real villain Another major influence is a huge, mysterious structure located about 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) below the African continent, known as the African Large Low Shear Velocity Province (LLSVP). This dense mass of rock interferes with the flow of molten materials in the core and is believed to be a major reason why the magnetic field weakens in the South Atlantic region.
One of the most immediate concerns with the SAA is how it affects satellites and space instruments. When satellites travel through this weakened magnetic field, they are exposed to more cosmic radiation than usual. This can cause what's known as single-event upsets (SEUs), which are temporary glitches in electronic systems caused by a hit from a high-energy particle. In more serious cases, entire systems can shut down or suffer permanent damage.
Many space agencies have programmed their satellites to turn off or switch to safe mode when passing through the SAA to minimize risk. Even the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits close to the edge of the anomaly, has to take special precautions when flying through the area, as it is now under a major threat. NASA has said that the anomaly is one of the primary reasons for malfunctions in low-Earth orbiting satellites.What worries scientists even more is that the anomaly isn't stable. It has been gradually moving westward and slightly expanding. In recent years, researchers observed that it is splitting into two distinct regions, each with its center of lowest magnetic strength. This development has made it harder to predict and manage the risks associated with satellite travel through the area.
NASA and other space agencies are closely monitoring the situation. Tools like the European Space Agency's Swarm satellites are being used to track changes in the Earth's magnetic field and model what might happen in the future.
Also Read: Sun will die in 5 billion years but life could survive on Jupiter's moon Europa; here's how While scientists don't believe the anomaly signals a complete magnetic pole reversal — something that has happened in Earth's past- they acknowledge that the magnetic field is weakening at a slow but noticeable pace.There is no immediate danger for people on the ground, as the atmosphere provides additional protection against radiation. However, the South Atlantic Anomaly indicates that the Earth's magnetic field is dynamic and still not fully understood. It poses a growing challenge for technology in space and serves as a reminder of the powerful forces at work beneath our feet. As NASA puts it, keeping a close eye on this anomaly is essential not just for science but for the safety of everything we send into space.