Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary hidden in the rhythmic rise and fall of Earth’s tides: mysterious magnetic signals that may rewrite how we think about the inner workings of the planet. For centuries, people have admired tides for their predictability, beauty, but there is something that lies beneath the surface of these waters and is quietly shaping our world. This groundbreaking discovery promises to open new doors in geophysics, revealing the most intricate details about Earth’s magnetic field, never seen before. How were these signals discovered, and what secrets might they hold? As researchers dig deeper, the implications could range from improving global navigation systems to unlocking clues about our planet’s evolution. The tides, it seems, have much more to tell.
Discovery of magnetic signals from ocean tides
Scientists have detected the weakest magnetic signals produced by Earth’s ocean tides, opening up new windows into the inner workings of the planet. These faint signals, recorded by satellites in very low orbits, are produced as seawater flows through Earth’s magnetic field, creating weak electric currents. Researchers analyzed data from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Swarm mission to successfully interpret these elusive signals.
Published 2 December 2024, scientists have made this new discovery after the ocean tide can tell what’s beneath them in terms of magma. Here is the part where the findings of Alexander Grayver, from the University of Cologne, an author and leader of scientific research, mention that it will be the lowest signals that these swarms ever sense.
How ESA’s Swarm satellites detect hidden ocean signals
The European Space Agency consists of three satellites launched in 2013. Its mission was to complete the study about Earth’s magnetic field in the year 2017, but it was further extended due to its huge contribution to science, and it did so gradually at the expense of atmospheric drag causing the orbit lowering of the spacecraft.
The recent study also had the advantage of a solar minimum, a period during which there is a decrease in solar activity approximately every 11 years. This means that interference from the Sun’s electromagnetic radiation and charged particles decreases, so a satellite might sense the minute signatures of magnetic waves that exist on Earth.
Swarm is anticipated to be operational up to 2030 which will coincide with the next solar minimum, potentially providing yet another unique opportunity to look for hidden oceanic signals. “This extended mission has allowed scientists to answer new and unexpected research questions”, says mission manager Anja Strømme.
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