Navigators and explorers are baffled by anomalies in Earth's magnetic field, rendering compasses useless in specific locations. WION recently highlighted five such perplexing spots, revealing a phenomenon that has intrigued scientists for decades.
The Canadian Shield in northern Canada is one such area, experiencing significant magnetic declination—the angle between magnetic north and true north—sometimes exceeding 40 degrees. Similarly, parts of Russia's Kola Peninsula and the Baltic Sea region exhibit erratic magnetic behavior, disrupting navigation.
Further afield, the South Atlantic Anomaly, a region over South America and the South Atlantic Ocean, shows a weakening of Earth's magnetic field, impacting satellites and causing compass malfunctions. Finally, the Zimbabwean Magnetic Anomaly, a localized area in Zimbabwe, displays unusually high magnetic intensity, further complicating compass readings.
These magnetic oddities are linked to variations in Earth's core, a molten iron-nickel sphere generating our planet's magnetic field. Understanding these anomalies is crucial for accurate navigation and protecting sensitive technology from magnetic interference.
