Lifestyle

Scientists say ‘anomaly’ in Earth’s magnetic field is splitting

By
Mike Wehner, BGR
Published Aug. 19, 2020, 4:18 p.m. ET
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This stereoscopic visualization shows a simple model of the Earth's magnetic field.
This stereoscopic visualization shows a simple model of the Earth’s magnetic field. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Cent
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The Sun expels a constant outflow of particles and magnetic fields known as the solar wind and vast clouds of hot plasma and radiation called coronal mass ejections.
The Sun expels a constant outflow of particles and magnetic fields known as the solar wind and vast clouds of hot plasma and radiation called coronal mass ejections. NASA Goddard / Bailee DesRocher
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When solar material streams strikes Earth’s magnetosphere, it can become trapped and held in two donut-shaped belts around the planet called the Van Allen Belts.
When solar material streams strikes Earth’s magnetosphere, it can become trapped and held in two donut-shaped belts around the planet called the Van Allen Belts. NASA Goddard / Tom Bridgman