A worrying magnetic anomaly has drawn the attention of authorities and scientists, especially in the southern and southeastern regions of Brazil. According to data released by the United States government in a recent report, the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (AMAS) is expanding, moving westward.
AMAS, an area of weakening of the Earth’s magnetosphere, is being closely monitored by several international government agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). According to the report’s authors, the anomaly increased by about 5 percent at depth, approaching an area where the likelihood of radiation damage to satellites is higher.
Concern about the potential impacts of AMAS is real, especially with regard to damage to satellites in Earth orbit due to exposure to excessive radiation. This anomaly can also interfere with the propagation of radio waves, affecting communication and navigation systems.
“This region has a weaker field, which allows particles from the solar wind to enter this region more easily, intensifying the flow of charged particles,” explained Marcel Nogueira, PhD in Physics and researcher at the National Observatory.
The concern about AMAS is not just limited to the damage to satellites. The weakening of the magnetic field in the region may lead to the need for satellites to go into “standby”, temporarily shutting down some components to prevent damage.
To better understand this anomaly and its potential impacts, space agencies are stepping up monitoring and research efforts. Brazil, for example, recently launched the NanosatC-BR2 nanosatellite in a mission focused on the study of AMAS. In addition, the country has two magnetic observatories, in Vassouras (RJ) and Tatuoca (AM), focused on answering the main questions about this anomaly.
What are the dangers associated with magnetic anomaly?
The magnetic field strength in this area is approximately one-third of the global average. In 2020, NASA highlighted that research groups monitor the South Atlantic Anomaly (AAS) to prepare for possible future challenges to satellites and human activities in space.
Despite officials saying there are no immediate risks to human health or everyday activities, the magnetic anomaly can cause radiation damage to satellites and interfere with the propagation of radio signals, especially as it continues to expand.
Why is the magnetic anomaly important to NASA?
According to NASA, particle radiation in this region can damage onboard computers and interfere with data collection from satellites that traverse it. However, the importance goes beyond that. The AAS is also of interest to NASA scientists as an opportunity to better understand how these changes affect Earth’s atmosphere and as an indicator of the state of Earth’s magnetic fields at depth. In addition, the recent weakening and splitting of the anomaly into two parts present additional challenges for satellite missions.
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