9Mar
Recently, the scientists in NASA have discovered that the plasma shield and magnetosphere of our Earth keeps us protected from the solar storm effects. For years scientists were aware of its existence, but researchers at NASA and MIT discovered the new purpose now.
Earlier scientists knew the magnetosphere protects our planet from any high energy solar activity, the process of which called as 'magnetic reconnection.'
Magnetic reconnection happens at the time of contact of Sun's magnetic field and the Earth's magnetosphere.
The space weather and solar storms plays important role in several aspects of life on Earth. These storms are dubbed as geomagnetic storms and it comes from the solar flares and coronal mass ejections on the surface of Sun.
The geomagnetic storms blast highly charged particles into the space and can cause severe damage on Earth, but its course is checked by the magnetosphere.
Scientists say when very large and intense storms occur the plasma works with the magnetosphere and slows down the highly charged particles.
"The Earth's magnetic field protects life on the surface from the full impact of these solar outbursts," said John Foster, associate director of MIT's Haystack Observatory. "Reconnection strips away some of our magnetic shield and lets energy leak in, giving us large, violent storms. These plasmas get pulled into space and slow down the reconnection process, so the impact of the sun on the Earth is less violent."
It is said at the time of magnetic reconnection part of magnetic field of our Earth is debilitated as highly charged particles collide with the magnetosphere.
The researchers say powerful electric currents are generated during the magnetic reconnection and they flow in the trajectory of magnetic field of our planet.
Scientists have also conducted studies about plasmasphere, which consists of plasma and also identified its properties. These observations helped to improve space weather predictions and this would be useful for spacecraft operators as well as terrestrial weather forecasts on Earth.
"This higher-density, cold plasma changes about every plasma physics process it comes in contact with," Foster says. "It slows down reconnection, and it can contribute to the generation of waves that, in turn, accelerate particles in other parts of the magnetosphere. So it's a recirculation process, and really fascinating."
The new discovery can help researchers to understand and predict the severity of such geomagnetic storms further.
More info: Massachusetts Institute of Technology News Release
via Science - Google News http://ift.tt/NMUnDA
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