Our planet has a magnetic field. It is known by the name of geomagnetic field. Among the different layers of the atmosphere We find a layer that contains the entire Earth's magnetic field. This layer is called magnetosphere. This is what today's article is about. We are going to talk about what the magnetosphere is, what it is for and how it is useful.
If you want to know more about the magnetosphere, this is your post.
What is the magnetosphere
As if we were talking about a magnet located in the center of our planet, the Earth's magnetic field works through electric currents. Electric currents are produced by the so-called convection currents that take place in the outer core of the planet. In this outer core we find a large concentration of cast iron that travels throughout the entire space due to a difference in densities. These convection currents also occur in the Earth's mantle and are responsible for the movement of the continents.
Despite what you may think, in the inner core of the earth there is a higher temperature. If it were not for the pressure of the materials, the iron would be completely molten. However, it is not due to the pressure caused by the force of gravity. Therefore, in the outer core located in a layer 2000 kilometers thick, yes contains molten iron, nickel and other small concentrations of other metals in liquid state. By having less pressure than other materials can be found molten.
Differences in temperature, pressure, and core composition are what cause convection currents. As cooler, and therefore denser, matter sinks, hotter matter rises. There is also what is known as convection currents. coriolis force This is a result of the Earth's spin, which causes vortexes in this mixture of molten metals. Because of all this, electric currents are produced within the planet, producing magnetic fields.
It is the charged metals that pass through these fields and create their own electric currents. This cycle, which is self-sufficient, is known as a geodynamic.
Key features
Once we understand how the Earth's magnetic field is formed, we can see that the magnetosphere controls the Earth's magnetic field. The shape of this magnetosphere depends on the action of the solar wind at any given time. The solar wind causes the opposite side to expand to distances approximately a thousand times the radius of the distance between the sun and Earth. This large expanse of the magnetosphere is known as the magnetic tail.
The intensity of the magnetic field is not the same in all latitudes of the earth. For example, the intensity is lowest at the Equator and highest at the poles. The outer limit of the magnetosphere, as with the other layers of the atmosphere, is called the magnetopause. We can say that the structure of the magnetosphere is quite dynamic. This is because it depends a lot on the activity of the solar wind. Magnetic poles are not the same as geographic poles. There is a difference of approximately 11 degrees between them. There are many studies that scientists have discovered on the change of direction experienced by the magnetic field. The current orientation of magnetic north is more than 600 miles from where it was in the early XNUMXs. Their speed has also been found to have increased by 40 miles per year.
There are numerous geological records, especially of the orientation of rocks, which show that this magnetic field has completely reversed several hundred times over the last 500 million years. During each reversal, the magnetic poles are usually located at opposite ends of the planet. This would cause a conventional compass to point toward the South Pole instead of the North Pole. Furthermore, to better understand the phenomenon of the magnetosphere, it is interesting to know how it relates to the solar wind.
Importance of the magnetosphere
As we mentioned before, there is a solar activity called the solar wind. This solar wind is nothing more than a stream of particles charged with radioactive energy coming from the sun. Thanks to the existence of the magnetosphere, we can perceive this solar wind without harming our lives. We usually see this solar wind as the northern lights and geomagnetic storms. If it weren't for this layer, it could damage all our communication systems, such as satellites and radio wave systems. Without the Earth's magnetic field, we would have no atmosphere, and therefore, Earth's temperatures would vary in a similar way to those on the surface of the moon. That is, in a range of temperatures ranging from 123 to 153 degrees.
Numerous animals, such as birds and turtles, are capable of detecting the Earth's magnetic field and using it to navigate during migration periods. It is also extremely useful for geologists to investigate the structures of underground rocks. Surveyors search for oil, gas, and mineral deposits, and thanks to this magnetic field, they can find them more easily, even in relation to the formation of the atmosphere. Since these fuels are the basis of the Earth's energy for humans, we can see the importance of the magnetosphere.
To summarize briefly, we can say that the magnetic field is necessary for the planet to sustain life. For these reasons, many researchers consider it essential to study the space climate and its relationship with the magnetic field.
Variation of the Earth's magnetic field
This magnetic field has a small variation over a 24-hour period. The variation primarily affects the direction in which the compass points. This difference is only noticeable in one-tenth of a liver, and the overall intensity is altered by only 0,1%.
Although they don't always work the same way, magnetic variations have certain patterns. The main pattern is a correlation with sunscreen that lasts an average of eleven years.
I hope this information helps you learn more about the magnetosphere and its importance to life on the planet.