Earth’s magnetic field protects us from cosmic radiation, but it is not as permanent as believed. Scientists discovered a ‘excursion’ 41,000 years ago where the field weakened, allowing harmful space rays to bombard Earth. Magnetic field excursions, like the Laschamps excursion, can lead to less protection and major upheavals in the biosphere. Researchers can measure cosmogenic radionuclides in cores to understand when cosmic rays have heavily impacted Earth’s surface. Sanja Panovska will present findings on the relationship between magnetic field intensity and cosmogenic nuclides during the Laschamps excursion, emphasizing space climate. Understanding these extreme events is crucial for future predictions and environmental impacts.
https://phys.org/news/2024-04-cosmic-rays-streamed-earth-atmosphere.html