the European space Agency ESA has proposed an explanation of the phenomenon, over the solution of which for several years scientists scratching their heads all over the world. According to researchers, the rapid movement of magnetic North pole towards Russia is connected with the stretching of the magnetic field deep under the surface of the Earth.
a Brief report on the new study listed on the ESA website. It is known that unlike the geographic North pole, which is in a fixed location, magnetic North pole is constantly moving. First noticed it in 1831.
Since then, for many years he was shifted from the canadian Arctic towards Siberia. The process was slow, however, since the 1990s years, this “drift” turned into a sprint. If earlier the rate of displacement was varied from 0 to 15 km per year, it now reaches 50-60 km a year.
Change of pace has led to the fact that the world magnetic model is increasingly forced to update. This is necessary for example for modern navigation systems. In the new study, researchers analyzed data collected by a satellite Swarm. It is possible to create a global map of the magnetic field and track the movement of liquid iron in the outer core. The magnetic field itself exists because of this ocean of hot liquid and the continuous circulating iron.
Earlier in the Symposium, ESA scientists from the University of Leeds in the UK suggested that the position of the North magnetic pole is largely determined by the balance between two large “magnetic drops” on the border of the outer core of the Earth.
the Change in the flow of the molten material inside the planet changed the nature and intensity of the above regions of negative magnetic flux. Visually it resembles a tug-of-war.
“after Analyzing the maps of the magnetic field with respect to time, we can now accurately say that the changes in the schema of the circulation flow under the Canada led to the fact that the area of the magnetic field at the core, deep underground, strongly stretched, says study co-author Phil Livermore University of Leeds. – It weakened the canadian site and has resulted in the shift of the pole in the direction of Siberia.”
Models of the magnetic field show that over the next few decades, the pole will continue to drift in the direction of Siberia. And while there is no answer to the question of whether he will return then to Canada or continue movement to the South.
“Given the fact that the pole position is regulated by a delicate balance between the canadian and Siberian sites, you will need only a small “setting” field inside the core, to send the pole back to Canada,” – said Livermore.
the full study is published in the journal Nature Geoscience.
