The European Space Agency has released some new data, and it suggests that the Earth's magnetic field is weakening at an alarming rate. The magnetic field data was collected by Swarm satellites, which are a series of three orbital satellites utilized for data-gathering by the ESA. The satellites collect information pertaining to the direction, strength, and variations of the Earth's magnetic field.
"It shows clearly that the field has weakened by about 3.5% at high latitudes over North America, while it has strengthened about 2% over Asia. The region where the field is at its weakest – the South Atlantic Anomaly – has moved steadily westward and weakened further by about 2%."
When talk turns to a magnetic pole shift on Earth, conspiracy theorists are quick to say that it will be a doomsday scenario that ends all life on the planet. At the very least, conspiracy theorists believe that a magnetic pole reversal would spell the end of modern civilization and humanity as we know it.
Geoscientists are less concerned about the potential repercussions of a magnetic pole shift, though. The general consensus among experts is that the worst impact Earth's denizens will likely face if such an event occurs is " the re-labeling all of Earth's compasses."
"Swarm data are now enabling us to map detailed changes in Earth's magnetic field, not just at Earth's surface but also down at the edge of its source region in the core. Unexpectedly, we are finding rapid localized field changes that seem to be a result of accelerations of liquid metal flowing within the core."
Some social media users have serious concerns about the weakening of the Earth's magnetic field.
