COSEE Ocean Systems: News
Sun's magnetic field is about to flip: What it means for Earth
Description: The sun's enormous magnetic field is about to flip, and the effects of this massive realignment will be felt throughout the solar system, including here on Earth. The sun's magnetic field creates what's called a "current sheet" that emanates from its equator and stretches millions of miles beyond Pluto. When the solar field flips, this "sheet" gets extra wavy, and as Earth moves around the sun, we dip in and out of it. The changes in the magnetic field interact with Earth's own magnetic field, which can cause auroras. [Source: Los Angeles Times]
URL: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-sun-magnetic-field-flip-20130807,0,7988373.story
Availability: Full Text
Source: Los Angeles Times
Publish Date: 8/7/2013
Reading Level: Basic
Page Length:  

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