NASA experts explain if ‘dent’ in Earth’s magnetic field will hurt humanity as it slowly splits in to two

There is a pretty massive 'dent' in Earth's magnetic field that scientists over at NASA are watching very intently. But just how much of a danger is the phenomenon to humanity and life on the planet?

Officially known as the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), it is a gigantic spot across Earth that travels easterly all the way from South America across the South Atlantic Ocean to southwest Africa.

Since being discovered, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has kept a close eye on the SAA as it monitors the planet's magnetic field and its impact on humanity and all our modern ways of living.

Is the South Atlantic Anomaly a cause for concern?

Ultimately, the South Atlantic Anomaly weakens Earth's magnetic field. NASA is monitoring it alongside the likes of the European Space Agency (ESA).

And recent studies from the ESA show that the anomaly might actually be splitting in to two main areas of disruption.

For those who don't know, the magnetic field surrounding Earth acts as a safety barrier from all the cosmic nasties in space - most of them ejected from the nearby Sun in the form of cosmic radiation and solar winds. This is why we see the northern lights, or aurora borealis, with it a visual representation of these solar winds hitting the magnetic barrier surrounding the planet.

Given how important this is at protecting life on Earth and keeping the planet habitable, any spots in the magnetic field that are weaker are obviously a cause for concern to us on the planet.

The South Atlantic Anomaly on planet Earth (NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center)

What damage does the South Atlantic Anomaly cause?

The South Atlantic Anomaly means that those travelling through this region - either in space or on Earth - are technically more vulnerable to the harmful stuff from space.

As of right now, the cause for concern is limited.

Both the ESA and NASA have noted that while the physical harm to us on Earth remains limited, the biggest impact to us as a civilisation is the damage done to our technology orbiting the planet.

Currently, the negatives are mostly limited to satellite issues, with technical malfunctions the most common issue encountered. Obviously, if this started to take out our tech, we'd be in a pickle. This is why many satellites and spacecraft will shut down as they orbit through the SAA so their gear cannot be damaged.

The 'dent' in the magnetic field above the Earth (NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center)

Will the South Atlantic Anomaly change going forward?

Yes it will. NASA has concluded the 'dent' in the magnetic field is actually slowly moving across the planet.

And as we said above, data suggests it is starting to split in to two major spots of weakened areas.

Some have wondered, and been worried, that it could be that the Earth's magnetic field is flipping. While we simply don't know, NASA is keeping its eye on things.