Earth's Magnetic Field

Areas where an object shows magnetic influence are called magnetic fields. The effect occurs along
magnetic field lines. English scientists Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell discovered the
concepts of magnetic field and magnetic lines. Earth's magnetic field is also called
the geomagnetic field.

The Earth's magnetic field reaches out into space and meets the solar wind. The solar wind contains
charged particles coming from the Sun. The Earth's magnetic field deflects the solar wind which can
break down the ozone layer protecting the Earth from ultraviolet radiation.

The magnetic field also deflects cosmic rays from outside the solar system. These are high-energy
charged particles. They are kept out of the solar system by the Sun's magnetosphere. A magnetosphere
is an area around a planet or other astronomical object where charged particles are manipulated. The
magnetosphere occurs because the planetary object has hot metallic cores.

The solar wind exerts a pressure which if it reached all the way to the Earth's atmosphere, would
erode it. However, Earth's magnetic field exerts pressure back and stops the dangerous solar wind. Even
the Earth's magnetic field cannot completely stop the charged particles from entering the magnetosphere.
These particles bounce back and forth between the poles. A ring current is formed when positive ions go
westward, and negative ions go eastward. The magnetic field at the Earth's surface is reduced because of
that ring current.

Space weather occurs in the magnetosphere. Conditions in the magnetosphere change. This is caused
by solar activity. The magnetosphere gets bigger if the solar wind is weak. If the solar wind is strong,
more of it penetrates the compressed magnetosphere. Geomagnetic storms can occur when shock waves
are sent through the solar system from eruptions above the Sun or solar flares. A shock wave of this type
can reach the Earth in two days. It can cause damage to the satellites in the atmosphere. The largest
geomagnetic storm was recorded in 1859. It shorted out telegraph lines.

In 1832, Carl Friederic Gauss measured the Earth's magnetic field. It has been measured continuously
over the last one hundred years. The field has decayed about ten percent in that time. Governments
sometimes operate geomagnetic observatories which measure the Earth's magnetic field. They can
forecast magnetic conditions. These could be storms which would affect electric power and
communications. One hundred geomagnetic observatories are connected in the International Real-time
Magnetic Observatory Network. It has been measuring the Earth's magnetic field since 1991. The
military use geomagnetic measurements to detect significant metallic objects, like a submarine under
water.
 An interesting fact is that during migration some animals, including birds and turtles, can navigate
because they can detect the Earth's magnetic field. Some scientists believe that wild deer and cows,
when they are not under high voltage power lines, usually align their bodies north south when they
relax. The scientists suggest that magnetism is the cause. Other scientists disagree with that finding.

European robins and some other songbirds use a magnetic compass to navigate the Earth's magnetic
field. Very weak electromagnetic fields can disrupt the compass. Scientists put the blame for this
occurrence on AM radio signals and other electronic equipment found in homes or businesses.
1) Which of the following first measured the Earth's magnetic field?
A: Carl Weland
B: Friederic Gault
C: Carl Jorgenson
D: Friederic Gauss

2) Which of the following is the percent that the Earth's magnetic field has decayed in the last one
hundred fifty years?
A: 15
B: 40
C: 10
D: 25

3) Which of the following is a true statement?

A: The magnetosphere gets smaller if the solar wind is weak.
B: No one can forecast magnetic conditions.
C: Geomagnetic observatories measure the Earth's magnetic field.
D: Jean Friederic Gaul discovered the concept of magnetic fields.

4) Which of the following is a false statement?

A: Michael Faraday helped discover the concept of magnetic fields.
B: Conditions in the magnetosphere never change.
C: An observatory network has been measuring the Earth's magnetic field since 1991.
D: The largest geomagnetic storm was recorded in 1858.

5) Which of the following deflects cosmic rays from outside the solar system?
A: The solar wind
B: Earth's magnetosphere
C: A solar flare
D: A ring current

6) Which of the following is another name for Earth's magnetic field?

A: Geomagnetic field
B: Ring current
C: Solar wind
D: Magnetic pressure