MAGNETOSPHERE by MagikUnicorn

Bryce • Space • posted on Apr 08, 2014

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Description

Magnetosphere A magnetosphere is the area of space near an astronomical object in which charged particles are controlled by that object's magnetic field. Near the surface of the object, the magnetic field lines resemble those of a magnetic dipole. Farther away from the surface, the field lines are significantly distorted by electric currents flowing in the plasma (e.g. in ionosphere or solar wind). When speaking about Earth, magnetosphere is typically used to refer to the outer layer of the ionosphere, although some sources consider the ionosphere and magnetosphere to be separate. Earth's magnetosphere Over Earth's equator, the magnetic field lines become almost horizontal, then return to connect back again at high latitudes. However, at high altitudes, the magnetic field is significantly distorted by the solar wind and its solar magnetic field. On the dayside of Earth, the magnetic field is significantly compressed by the solar wind to a distance of approximately 65,000 kilometers (40,000 mi). Earth's bow shock is about 17 kilometers (11 mi) thick and located about 90,000 kilometers (56,000 mi) from Earth. The magnetopause exists at a distance of several hundred kilometers off earth's surface. Earth's magnetopause has been compared to a sieve because it allows solar wind particles to enter. Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities occur when large swirls of plasma travel along the edge of the magnetosphere at a different velocity from the magnetosphere, causing the plasma to slip past. This results in magnetic reconnection, and as the magnetic field lines break and reconnect, solar wind particles are able to enter the magnetosphere. On Earth's nightside, the magnetic field extends in the magnetotail, which lengthwise exceeds 6,300,000 kilometers (3,900,000 mi). Earth's magnetotail is the primary source of the polar aurora. Also, NASA scientists have suggested or "speculated" that Earth's magnetotail can cause "dust storms" on the Moon by creating a potential difference between the day side and the night side. Large image of Earth Magnetosphere http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Magnetosphere_rendition.jpg

Comments (28)

MagikUnicorn

9:32PM | Tue, 08 April 2014

La Magnétosphère La magnétosphère est la région entourant un objet céleste dans laquelle les phénomènes physiques sont dominés ou organisés par son champ magnétique. Toute planète dotée d'un champ magnétique (la Terre, Jupiter, Saturne, Uranus et Neptune) possède sa propre magnétosphère. Mercure et Ganymède, une lune de Jupiter, en possèdent également une, mais ces magnétosphères sont trop faibles pour capturer le vent solaire ionisé. Sur Mars, on a observé des anomalies magnétiques locales dans l'écorce planétaire, restes présumés d'un champ magnétique ancestral de nos jours disparu. Le terme « magnétosphère » est aussi utilisé pour décrire une région dominée par des champs magnétiques de plusieurs objets célestes. La magnétosphère terrestre est située au-delà de l'ionosphère, c'est-à-dire au-dessus de 800 à 1 000 km d'altitude. S'il n'y avait pas de vent solaire, le spectre magnétique de la Terre serait semblable à celui d'un aimant droit isolé. En réalité, la magnétosphère agit comme un écran et protège la surface terrestre des excès du vent solaire, nocif pour les poumons. Elle s'oppose au vent solaire comme une culée de pont dévie le courant d'une rivière. En contrepartie le vent solaire déforme le spectre magnétique de la Terre en lui donnant une forme de queue de comète. vOIR UNE IMAGE GRANDE RÉSOLUTION DE LA MAGNÉTOSPHÈRE http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Magnetosphere_rendition.jpg