How does solar wind effects Geomagnetic Field?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the effects of solar wind on Earth's geomagnetic field, exploring how plasma from solar winds interacts with the magnetic field and the conversion of energy on Earth. The scope includes theoretical aspects, potential applications, and references to ongoing research in space weather.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that solar winds, which contain charged plasma and carry the Sun's magnetic field orientation, impact Earth's magnetic field, but specifics on the interaction remain unclear.
  • Others suggest that understanding the interaction of plasma particles, particularly those with northward polarity, requires more detailed physics knowledge and literature.
  • A participant mentions NASA's THEMIS and ARTEMIS missions, which study the electrical and magnetic field components in the magnetosphere and have discovered phenomena like counter-rotating "electrical space hurricanes" linked to solar wind pressure waves.
  • There is a suggestion that reading existing literature, including encyclopedia articles and research papers, could provide deeper insights into the subject.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the interaction of solar wind with Earth's magnetic field, with no consensus reached on the specifics of these interactions or the best resources for understanding them.

Contextual Notes

Some participants indicate a lack of detailed descriptions in existing literature regarding how plasma interacts with Earth's magnetic field, highlighting the complexity of the subject and the need for a solid understanding of plasma physics.

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Solar winds contain plasma, which are charged particles and carry Sun's magnetic field orientation, when those solar wind hits toward Earth, does anyone have any suggestions on how those plasma affects on Earth's magnetic field? and how this energy converts into different forms on Earth?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions :>
 
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Drakkith said:

I have read them, but there is not much details on how plasma particles interact with Earth's magnetic field with more detailed description.

Do you have any suggestions on how plasma with northward polarity interacts with Earth's magnetic field in much more details in physics' issue?

Thanks you very much for any suggestions
 
If you want details on this large of a subject, then I think the best "suggestions" we can give are things for you to read. Do you already know plasma physics? If so then it will be easier to learn what you are interested in. If not, what physics do you already know, and at what level?

Anyway, here is an encyclopedia article from a prof. at UCLA, which has had a strong space plasma physics group for a long time:
http://www.atmos.ucla.edu/~larry/EncylopediaArticle/EncyclopediaArticle.pdf

They also have some tutorials that may be useful:
http://www-ssc.igpp.ucla.edu/ssc/tutorial.html

jason
 
I would reply later after reading them ...
Thanks everyone very much for suggestions :>
 
NASA's THEMIS and ARTEMIS missions are studying space weather and the Sun-Earth electrical connection. Specifically THEMIS studies the electrical and magnetic field components near Earth in our magnetosphere, while ARTEMIS makes these observations from a lunar outpost to see the big picture. Below is a recent publication showing the discovery of two counter-rotating "electrical space hurricanes" generated by a pressure wave in the solar wind, similar to turbulent eddies in water (Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities).

http://themis.igpp.ucla.edu/nuggets/nuggets_2014/Shi/Shi_14.html

These plasma "hurricanes" are electrically connected to the Earth's magnetic poles, and thus are further evidence of the fundamental (invisible) electrical nature of our planet, surrounded by vast current systems that can affect weather and our technologically-dependent society.

More info, animations, and articles on THEMIS/ARTEMIS youtube page and mission sites:

https://www.youtube.com/user/NASATHEMIS
http://themis.igpp.ucla.edu/
http://artemis.igpp.ucla.edu/
 

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