Name: Chris
Status: other
Grade: other
Location: N/A
Country: Canada
Date: Spring 2012
Question:
How does the geomagnetic fields of earth effect on climate?
Replies:
Hi Chris,
Geomagnetic field changes have played an important role in Earth’s climate for thousands of years. These changes arise from the Earth’s own geomagnetic field as well as the Solar Wind and other Solar magnetic disturbances. Fortunately, Earth’s geomagnetic field offers protection from the Sun’s influences.
Solar Wind interaction with the magnetosphere affects the Earth’s rotation causing a redistribution of ocean stored heat and water masses. There are also small changes in the total sunlight available at Earth’s surface. Cosmic rays reaching into the higher levels of Earth’s atmosphere affect airglow(aurora) and cloudiness.
Water masses, heat, sunlight, clouds and Cosmic ray disturbances all translate into active weather phenomena(storms of all types) for us on the surface. These phenomena may be very dramatic.
Researchers publishing at http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003EAEJA....11639M cite evidence that these interactions may lead to a “Little Ice Age” in the foreseeable future.
Hope this helps!
Peter E. Hughes, Ph.D.
Milford, NH
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