What is a magnetic storm?
A magnetic storm is a period of rapid magnetic field variation. It can last from hours to days.
Magnetic storms have two basic causes:
- The Sun sometimes emits a strong surge of solar wind called a coronal mass ejection. This gust of solar wind disturbs the outer part of the Earth's magnetic field, which undergoes a complex oscillation. This generates associated electric currents in the near-Earth space environment, which in turn generates additional magnetic field variations -- all of which constitute a "magnetic storm."
- Occasionally, the Sun's magnetic field directly links with that of the Earth. This direct magnetic connection is not the normal state of affairs. When it occurs, charged particles traveling along magnetic field lines can easily enter the magnetosphere, generate currents, and cause the magnetic field to undergo time dependent variation.
Sometimes the Sun emits a coronal mass ejection at a time when the magnetic field lines of the Earth and Sun are directly connected. When these events occur, we can experience a truly large magnetic storm.
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How does the Earth's core generate a magnetic field? How does the Earth's core generate a magnetic field?
The Earth's outer core is in a state of turbulent convection as the result of radioactive heating and chemical differentiation. This sets up a process that is a bit like a naturally occurring electrical generator, where the convective kinetic energy is converted to electrical and magnetic energy. Basically, the motion of the electrically conducting iron in the presence of the Earth's magnetic...
Is it true that Earth's magnetic field occasionally reverses its polarity? Is it true that Earth's magnetic field occasionally reverses its polarity?
Yes. We can see evidence of magnetic polarity reversals by examining the geologic record. When lavas or sediments solidify, they often preserve a signature of the ambient magnetic field at the time of deposition. Incredible as it may seem, the magnetic field occasionally flips over! The geomagnetic poles are currently roughly coincident with the geographic poles, but occasionally the magnetic...
Do solar flares or magnetic storms (space weather) cause earthquakes? Do solar flares or magnetic storms (space weather) cause earthquakes?
Solar flares and magnetic storms belong to a set of phenomena known collectively as "space weather." Technological systems and the activities of modern civilization can be affected by changing space-weather conditions. However, it has never been demonstrated that there is a causal relationship between space weather and earthquakes. Indeed, over the course of the Sun's 11-year variable cycle, the...
What are the hazards of magnetic storms? What are the hazards of magnetic storms?
Our technology based infrastructure can be adversely affected by rapid magnetic field variations. This is especially true during “magnetic storms." Because the ionosphere is heated and distorted during storms, long range radio communication that relies on sub-ionospheric reflection can be difficult or impossible and global-positioning system (GPS) communications can be degraded. Ionospheric...
Why measure the magnetic field at the Earth's surface? Wouldn't satellites be better suited for space-weather studies? Why measure the magnetic field at the Earth's surface? Wouldn't satellites be better suited for space-weather studies?
Satellites and ground-based magnetometers are both important for making measurements of the Earth’s magnetic field. They are not redundant but are instead complementary: Satellites provide good geographical coverage for data collection. Ground-based magnetometers are much less expensive and much easier to install than satellites. An array of magnetometers provides coverage from numerous locations...
Related
How does the Earth's core generate a magnetic field? How does the Earth's core generate a magnetic field?
The Earth's outer core is in a state of turbulent convection as the result of radioactive heating and chemical differentiation. This sets up a process that is a bit like a naturally occurring electrical generator, where the convective kinetic energy is converted to electrical and magnetic energy. Basically, the motion of the electrically conducting iron in the presence of the Earth's magnetic...
Is it true that Earth's magnetic field occasionally reverses its polarity? Is it true that Earth's magnetic field occasionally reverses its polarity?
Yes. We can see evidence of magnetic polarity reversals by examining the geologic record. When lavas or sediments solidify, they often preserve a signature of the ambient magnetic field at the time of deposition. Incredible as it may seem, the magnetic field occasionally flips over! The geomagnetic poles are currently roughly coincident with the geographic poles, but occasionally the magnetic...
Do solar flares or magnetic storms (space weather) cause earthquakes? Do solar flares or magnetic storms (space weather) cause earthquakes?
Solar flares and magnetic storms belong to a set of phenomena known collectively as "space weather." Technological systems and the activities of modern civilization can be affected by changing space-weather conditions. However, it has never been demonstrated that there is a causal relationship between space weather and earthquakes. Indeed, over the course of the Sun's 11-year variable cycle, the...
What are the hazards of magnetic storms? What are the hazards of magnetic storms?
Our technology based infrastructure can be adversely affected by rapid magnetic field variations. This is especially true during “magnetic storms." Because the ionosphere is heated and distorted during storms, long range radio communication that relies on sub-ionospheric reflection can be difficult or impossible and global-positioning system (GPS) communications can be degraded. Ionospheric...
Why measure the magnetic field at the Earth's surface? Wouldn't satellites be better suited for space-weather studies? Why measure the magnetic field at the Earth's surface? Wouldn't satellites be better suited for space-weather studies?
Satellites and ground-based magnetometers are both important for making measurements of the Earth’s magnetic field. They are not redundant but are instead complementary: Satellites provide good geographical coverage for data collection. Ground-based magnetometers are much less expensive and much easier to install than satellites. An array of magnetometers provides coverage from numerous locations...