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REGION: North America
TOPIC: Science & Technology
Online NewsHour
FORUM
Posted: May 25, 2007

Scientists Study Space Storms

Forum Introduction
Vassilis Angelopoulos High school students and teachers are helping collect data for NASA's THEMIS mission to study space storms. THEMIS principal investigator Vassilis Angelopoulos answers your questions.
QUESTIONS
Do other planets have auroras?
How does the Earth's magnetic field reversing impact space storms?
How much lead time does one get for viewing an aurora?
How can my students get involved in this project?
What causes the colors and shapes of an aurora?
Leo S. from Schaumburg, Ill., asks
Some time ago I watched a TV program, I believe it was NOVA, wherein it was explained that the Earth's magnetic field had reversed at some point in time and that it may do so again. If and when it does, how might that impact space storms?
ANSWERS
THEMIS principal investigator Vassilis Angelopoulos responds:

Yes, the Earth's magnetic field has reversed in the past and may do so again. These reversals take place over thousands of years. When the field is undergoing a reversal it reduces in magnitude and points towards the equator initially, then increases with the opposite polarity (what was once the north magnetic pole becomes the south pole, and vice versa.)

Space storms would be very much affected by the field reversals at Earth. Because during the reversal Earth's magnetic field would be rather small, and point towards the equator rather than the poles, the Sun's energy would be able to penetrate closer to the atmosphere, because Earth would lack a strong magnetic field to shield it.

Energetic particles streaming along magnetic fields connected directly to the Sun could come inside Earth's atmosphere and increase hazardous radiation. Storms and substorms might still happen, but the direct solar wind impact onto the upper atmosphere and the penetration of solar energetic particles directly into the atmosphere (without the protective effects from Earth's magnetic field) would dominate.

Once the field reversed completely, phenomena at Earth (including storms and substorms) would be similar to now.

Next Question and Answer

SCIENCE REPORTS
  Space
IN-DEPTH COVERAGE
  Main: Studying Space Storms
REPORTS
  NASA in the Classroom
RESOURCES
  Slide Show: How THEMIS Works
  Forum: Mission Scientist
FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
  Classroom Activity
  Worksheet Questions








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