- Magnetosphere
- Multiscale
- Plasma and Processes
- Space Weather
Magnetosphere:
| Despite not being able to see anything, Earth's near-space enviroment is actually filled with electric and magnetic fields, particles, and activity only noticed
by specialized equiptment. This near-space enviroment is called the magnetosphere. Much as Earth's magnetic field influnences a compass, the magnetic field also comes into the magnetosphere and influences how space weather influences humanity. As solar wind comes in contact with the magnetosphere, the solar wind must change its path very sharply. This abrupt change in course occurs just outside Earth's magnetic field in a region called the bow shock. The magnetosphere shields the Earth from most of the solar wind; as plasma, consisting of charged particles, is generaly defelected around the magnetic field of the Earth. The solar wind plasma can, however, travel along the
Earth's magnetic field to polar cusps and to the magnetotail. |  |
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Multiscale:
Multiscale in the MMS mission refers to the fact that the satalites are able to adjust the distance between them. The satalites are able to move to an unprecedented 10 km apart. 10km is small enough so that the satalites can enter the small area where reconnection occurs.
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Plasma and Processes:
What is plasma?
Plasma is...
...a rarefied flow of gas and charged
particles (plasma) that stream from the sun and form the solar wind.
How does it get like that?
Plasma...
 | ...occurs when temperatures of a gas are so high that each
atom's electrons separate from those atoms and the resulting
substance is a super-hot mix of positively and negatively charged ions. |
Why does this affect me?
Plasma...
...actually plays a large role in our lives, though we may not know it.
Plasmas carry electrical currents, so they affect and are affected by
electrical and magnetic fields. Since the Earth is surrounded by a magnetic
field (the magnetosphere which you probably read about earlier),
interactions between all the plasma in the sun and Earth are essential to
study.
But why do we need to study this?
Plasma's magnetic field...
|
...and its affect on Earth's magnetosphere can show up in many ways.
It can decrease the protection of Earth's creatures from the radiation of
space, as well as potentially destroy parts of Earth's ozone. Violent
magnetic disturbances can also perturb the satellites we put in space,
influencing radio signals, telephone signals, television signals and a
massive amount of other functions without which our advanced society
would be crippled. |
 |
Can you give me any physical evidence that the sun actually
affects the Earth?
Sure...
...The aurora borealis and the aurora australis,
also known as the Northern and Southern Lights,
are direct results from
interfering magnetic and electrical
currents from the sun. |
 |
Does plasma affect anything else?
Absolutely...
...It greatly affects space weather, which you can read about next!
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Space Weather:
Tell me more about
space weather!!!
 | Space weather results from solar wind, flares, and
other magnetic and electric disturbances. Magnetic
storms rage through space on a regular basis, but
luckily the Earth has its magnetosphere which protects it
from most of these storms' effects. The strongest
ones can, however, affect the Earth in an assortment of ways,
from altering our weather patterns today to influencing the radiation
that will hit Earth generations from now. |
.
Wow!! How and when do these storms happen?
| Every 11 years the sun goes through a solar cycle,
in which it goes through a period of maximum activity and minimum activity.
Obviously, the point where the sun and its magnetic pulses are at
their highest activity is when space storms happen most. Space weather
is at its most violent then, and it is when the Earth is most vulnerable. |
 |
What?!? Should I be scared?
Well, it may seem a bit scary, but since researchers have so much
knowledge on the sun, magnetic fields, and the like thanks to
educational and research missions such as MMS, we are better prepared to
deal with, adapt to, and adjust for the effects of these solar storms
and the changes in space weather. So, don't worry! Our lives are in
good hands with these scientists.
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