Magnetic anomaly did not cause floods in southern Brazil

The so-called South Atlantic magnetic anomaly has no effect on torrential rainfall with unprecedented floods in Rio Grande do Sul, contrary to what is suggested in dozens of posts on the Internet by people who have absolutely no introduction to the science or studies that allow With this statement.

Recent discoveries in studies from major universities around the world have brought new information about the so-called South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly, which affects a large area of ​​South America, including part of Brazil, especially the southern region.

There has been increasing scientific interest in this topic in recent years, leading to new work on anomalies in the Earth’s magnetic field. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that the strange behavior of the Earth’s magnetic field over the South Atlantic region can be traced back to 11 million years ago, and is unlikely to cause any imminent reversal of the Earth’s magnetic field.

The South Atlantic Anomaly is a weak point in the Earth’s magnetic field, which protects the planet from high doses of solar wind and cosmic radiation. This anomaly exists because Earth’s inner Van Allen radiation belt is moving closer to the planet’s surface, causing an increased flow of energetic particles.

In turn, this anomaly also causes technical disturbances to satellites and spacecraft orbiting around the Earth. Researchers from the University of Liverpool in England studied igneous or volcanic rocks on the island of St. Helena, which is located in the South Atlantic Ocean anomaly.

Records of Earth’s magnetic field are preserved in igneous rocks, providing a detailed look at the planet’s magnetic history. “Our study provides the first long-term analysis of the magnetic field in this region dating back millions of years,” Yael Ingebers, the study’s lead author, said in a statement. “This reveals that the magnetic field anomalies in the South Atlantic are not isolated; similar anomalies have been present for 8 to 11 million years.”

Another recent study ruled out risks in commercial aviation. The magnetic anomaly in the South Atlantic Ocean causes a significant increase in ionizing radiation levels and related effects on spacecraft in low Earth orbit, as well as a corresponding increase in radiation exposure to astronauts and electronic components on the International Space Station.

According to urban legend, the anomaly was also supposed to be able to affect the radiation field in the atmosphere, reaching civil aviation heights. To identify and quantify any additional contributions to ubiquitous radiation exposure at flight altitudes, comprehensive measurements were made across the geographic region of the anomaly at an altitude of 13 km in a unique flight mission called “Atlantic Kiss”.

According to a study published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature, no indication of increased exposure to radiation was found during the research flight, and therefore this anomaly does not expose passengers or crew of commercial flights in Brazil, South America, or the South Atlantic to higher levels of radiation. Radiation. Cosmic radiation rates.

“Surprisingly, nonsense about flood magnetic anomalies is spreading on the Internet,” comments meteorologist Estelle Sias. “This is an anomaly that has been operating for millions and millions of years, with countless floods and droughts occurring in southern Brazil,” he says. “Why does this huge anomaly cause heavy rainfall only in Rio Grande do Sul while some other areas it covers record a lack of rainfall,” he wonders.

MetSul Meteorologia confirms in the utmost terms that the event of heavy rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul with unprecedented floods has its origin exclusively in the climate with components of natural fluctuations, such as the El Niño phenomenon until the middle of this month, climate changes whose continuation has favored the blockage of the atmosphere and the warming of the Atlantic Ocean.

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