CONSEQUENCES OF THE SOLAR WIND ON OUR LIVES

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The solar wind is the constant flow of charged particles coming from the Sun in all directions. It is highly variable and it has important effects in the particles that enter the earth's magnetosphere.

The most energetic particles which are the cosmic-rays make their way through the troposphere(where we live) and in this way, they provide with a means of influencing the earth's weather and climate. The solar wind and the cosmic rays both have a great impact on earth. Scientists hypothesize that variations in the rate of electrical charging of supercooled water in high-altitude clouds might be related to the connections between the solar wind and the cosmic rays.

It is vital to maintain continuity in the flow of current between the earth's surface and the ionosphere because it is a function of the earth-ionosphere potential difference and the atmospheric conductance. It is therefore a property of the solar wind, too.

The sun's total irradiance affects the earth's climate due to the fact that it is dominated by the oceans which possess a large thermal inertia that is related to variations in solar radiation.

The energy of the solar wind penetrates into the Earth's magnetosphere, ionosphere and atmosphere, as a result, it:

*drives the magnetospheric convection system and strenghtens much of the plasma on the Earth's magnetic field lines

*also drives field line resonances and other geomagnetic pulsations

*produces geomagnetic activity

*heats the polar upper atmosphere

*pushes large neutral atmospheric winds

*disrupts radio communication

*creates radio wave propagation

The solar wind is a source of electromagnetic energy that is permanently supplied to the near-Earth space. Electrons and protons of the solar wind hit the upper atmosphere and create the southern and northern lights which produce electrical currents that distort Earth's magnetic field at high northern and southern latitudes.

The solar activity influences the Earth's atmosphere, technological systems and human health.

This page was researched and compiled by Jocelyn