Characteristics of the Earth's Magnetosphere

The Earth's magnetosphere is made of three essential components. The first, the Earth's magnetic field, is generated by natural "dynamo" that is located in the core of the planet.

The second is the continuous solar wind that constantly streams out from the sun at speeds around 300 to 800 kilometers per second. The solar wind consists mainly of protons, alpha particles, and a ratio of electrons that make the wind electrically neutral. The solar wind is transported by the solar magnetic field that is "frozen" into the wind plasma.

The third is the Earth's ionosphere; the upper atmosphere is partially ionized (charged) by far-ultraviolet and X rays from the Sun above altitudes of about 100 km. The resulting ionosphere forms a second source of plasma for the magnetosphere. It consists mainly of protons, singly charged helium and oxygen, and the necessary number of electrons for electric charge neutrality.