Earth's magnetic poles prone to flip can cause satellite crashes: Study

Chinese researchers have revealed that earth’s magnetic poles are switching 30 times faster than previously. The data collected during the research suggested that the magnetic field of the earth is nearly ten percent weaker when compared to the records obtained 175 years ago. Research also suggests that the pole shift is likely to happen soon.

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Usually, magnetic pole shift happens 200,000 to 300,000 years, but the last flip happened approximately 780,000 years ago. This delay in pole shift indicates that a flip could happen at any time bringing about severe consequences.

"Excursions affecting the Earth's poles are happening with ever greater frequency. Although they do not pose any immediate threat to humanity, we could see mass satellite failure," said Jürgen Matzka, a top researcher at the Institute of Earth and Environmental Science in Potsdam. 

"The record provides important insights into ancient magnetic field behaviour, which has turned out to vary much more rapidly than previously thought," study co-author Andrew Roberts, a professor of Earth sciences at Australian National University, said in a statement.  

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Satellite data from the European Space Agency shows the magnetic field is weakening due to “restless activity” in the Earth’s core.  

(With inputs from agencies)