Magnetosphere

(noun)

The comet-shaped region around Earth or another planet in which charged particles are trapped or deflected. It is shaped by the solar wind and the planet's magnetic field.

Related Terms

Examples of Magnetosphere in the following topics:

  • Geomagnetism

    • The region above the ionosphere, and extending several tens of thousands of kilometers into space, is called the magnetosphere.
    • Shorter time scales mostly arise from currents in the ionosphere (ionospheric dynamo region) and magnetosphere, and some changes can be traced to geomagnetic storms or daily variations in currents.
    • Frequently, Earth's magnetosphere is hit by solar flares causing geomagnetic storms, provoking displays of aurorae.

  • Aurora Borealis and the Aurora Australis

    • The charged particles originate in the magnetosphere and solar wind and then are directed by the Earth's magnetic field into the atmosphere.
    • They are ionized or excited by the collision of solar wind and magnetospheric particles (such as high energy protons and electrons) funneling down and accelerating along the Earth's magnetic field lines.

  • Terraforming Mars

    • Solutions to this problem are not well-documented, but some scientists hypothesize that creating a magnetosphere would be helpful in resolving this issue.