Wednesday, December 17, 2008

A Giant Breach in Earth's Magnetic Field



NASA: A Giant Breach in Earth's Magnetic Field. (Hat tip: BF)

Dec. 16, 2008: NASA's five THEMIS spacecraft have discovered a breach in Earth's magnetic field ten times larger than anything previously thought to exist. Solar wind can flow in through the opening to "load up" the magnetosphere for powerful geomagnetic storms. But the breach itself is not the biggest surprise. Researchers are even more amazed at the strange and unexpected way it forms, overturning long-held ideas of space physics.

"At first I didn't believe it," says THEMIS project scientist David Sibeck of the Goddard Space Flight Center. "This finding fundamentally alters our understanding of the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction."

The magnetosphere is a bubble of magnetism that surrounds Earth and protects us from solar wind. Exploring the bubble is a key goal of the THEMIS mission, launched in February 2007. The big discovery came on June 3, 2007, when the five probes serendipitously flew through the breach just as it was opening. Onboard sensors recorded a torrent of solar wind particles streaming into the magnetosphere, signaling an event of unexpected size and importance.

"The opening was huge—four times wider than Earth itself," says Wenhui Li, a space physicist at the University of New Hampshire who has been analyzing the data. Li's colleague Jimmy Raeder, also of New Hampshire, says "1027 particles per second were flowing into the magnetosphere—that's a 1 followed by 27 zeros. This kind of influx is an order of magnitude greater than what we thought was possible."

The event began with little warning when a gentle gust of solar wind delivered a bundle of magnetic fields from the Sun to Earth. Like an octopus wrapping its tentacles around a big clam, solar magnetic fields draped themselves around the magnetosphere and cracked it open. The cracking was accomplished by means of a process called "magnetic reconnection." High above Earth's poles, solar and terrestrial magnetic fields linked up (reconnected) to form conduits for solar wind. Conduits over the Arctic and Antarctic quickly expanded; within minutes they overlapped over Earth's equator to create the biggest magnetic breach ever recorded by Earth-orbiting spacecraft.

The size of the breach took researchers by surprise. "We've seen things like this before," says Raeder, "but never on such a large scale. The entire day-side of the magnetosphere was open to the solar wind."

The circumstances were even more surprising. Space physicists have long believed that holes in Earth's magnetosphere open only in response to solar magnetic fields that point south. The great breach of June 2007, however, opened in response to a solar magnetic field that pointed north.

"To the lay person, this may sound like a quibble, but to a space physicist, it is almost seismic," says Sibeck. "When I tell my colleagues, most react with skepticism, as if I'm trying to convince them that the sun rises in the west."
Velikovsky was well familiar with how difficult it was trying to tell people Herodotos and Plato were right about the sun rising in the West.

Here is why they can't believe their ears: The solar wind presses against Earth's magnetosphere almost directly above the equator where our planet's magnetic field points north. Suppose a bundle of solar magnetism comes along, and it points north, too. The two fields should reinforce one another, strengthening Earth's magnetic defenses and slamming the door shut on the solar wind. In the language of space physics, a north-pointing solar magnetic field is called a "northern IMF" and it is synonymous with shields up!

"So, you can imagine our surprise when a northern IMF came along and shields went down instead," says Sibeck. "This completely overturns our understanding of things."

Northern IMF events don't actually trigger geomagnetic storms, notes Raeder, but they do set the stage for storms by loading the magnetosphere with plasma. A loaded magnetosphere is primed for auroras, power outages, and other disturbances that can result when, say, a CME (coronal mass ejection) hits.

The years ahead could be especially lively. Raeder explains: "We're entering Solar Cycle 24. For reasons not fully understood, CMEs in even-numbered solar cycles (like 24) tend to hit Earth with a leading edge that is magnetized north. Such a CME should open a breach and load the magnetosphere with plasma just before the storm gets underway. It's the perfect sequence for a really big event."

Sibeck agrees. "This could result in stronger geomagnetic storms than we have seen in many years."

14 comments:

Anaconda said...

NASA RECORDS "EXPLOSION" OF Z-PINCH IN THE EARTH'S MAGNETOPHERE TAIL

Science@NASA, Plasma Bullets Spark Northern Lights, July 24, 2008

What is remarkable is that the above NASA news release shows a Z-pinch in the Earth's magnetophere tail.

This Picture of the Day article: Pinch Yourself!, November 06, 2006 (thunderbolts.info) -- "Simple experiments can demonstrate the principle of the “Z-pinch” that electrical theorists say is the best explanation of the hourglass shape of many bipolar nebulas."

An "hourglass" shape is representative of a Z-pinch.

Please click the link to this picture provided by NASA, of the "explosion" in the Earth's magnetic field tail.

Notice how the magnetic field lines are drawn into a "pinch" at the point of the explosion.

Could this "mini-Z-pinch" explosion in the Earth's magnetic tail be a model of other larger z-pinch explosions light years from Earth that gravitational model astrophysicists have wrongly attributed to gravity? Clearly this explosion observed by NASA has nothing to do with gravity, it's an electrical event.

Another, piece in the Electric Universe theory puzzle and a another blow to the "big bang, black hole" gravitational model.

Anaconda said...

WHAT PROVIDES THE ENERGY TO BREACH THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD?

Here is a schematic that shows the "breach".

Notice in the left-hand figure, titled, "not alinged," that there is a Birkeland current quite visible, at the bottom left-hand corner of the diagram, flowing into the Earth's magnetosphere, pointed to by NASA with arrows and the legend, "denser solar wind."

It seems likely this well defined Birkeland current is driving the "breach" of the Earth's magnetic field.

More particles for an Expanding Earth. And more evidence confirming Electric Universe theory, and more evidence that Earth receives electric energy that goes down into the ground to "fire up" supercritical water and magma and other Earth plasma fluids.

It's emerging that the "skin" of the Earth is electrified.

This electrification of the Earth's "skin" has all kinds of geological ramifications: volcanic, seismic, and abiotic hydrocarbon production.

Science has the observations and the measurements to come to this conclusion. Will conventional science make the logical conclusion and inform the general public?

Anaconda said...

THE SUN PROVIDES THE ELECTRICAL ENERGY FOR NIKOLA TESLA'S WORKWHEEL OF NATURE THAT MAN CAN HARNESS

Louis Hissink states: "The base of the ionosphere could be one side of a plasma double layer, the other being the earth's surface, and between these two is the earth's electric field."

Louis makes an interesting statement because he describes a flowing river of electric current between two sides of plasma double layer.

"This planet, with all its appalling immensity, is to electric currents virtually no more than a small metal ball." -- inventor, Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla's statement is in agreement with Electric Universe theory:

"Because the Earth is a small charged body moving in a large cell of plasma, explanations of all physical phenomena in, on, and near the Earth must take the electrical behavior of plasma into account." -- Electrical Journey to Center of the Earth, October 27, 2004 (thunderbolts.info)

Nikola Tesla was a great inventor, physicist and electrical engineer, his inventions of the late 19th century and early 20th century power and animate the 21st century.

But perhaps his greatest insight was his greatest failure: The Wardenclyffe Tower. Part of its design was to demonstrate the transmission of power without interconnecting wires.

Tesla stated: "But the upper strata of the air are conducting, and so, perhaps, is the medium in free space beyond the atmosphere, and these may contain an opposite charge. Then the capacity might be incomparably greater."

Compare the above quote to the following passage:

"One electrical device which serves as a model for cosmic plasma activity is the capacitor. A capacitor is a device for accumulating and storing electric charge. It is made of two conductors separated by an insulating medium. When charge is placed on one conductor it attracts charge of the opposite polarity on the other conductor. As a result, an electric field is set up between the conductors, a reservoir of electrical energy." -- Earth: A Self-repairing Capacitor, September 27, 2004 (thunderbolts.info)

Please link the article to see Wallace Thornhill's conceptional schematic of the Earth's "capacitor". There is a positive electrode, the ionosphere and a negative electrode at the Earth's surface. Between them is a magnetic field and electric current.

Now, lets review Louis Hissink's statement: "The base of the ionosphere could be one side of a plasma double layer, the other being the earth's surface, and between these two is the earth's electric field."

Pretty close match between Louis's statement and the Electric Universe theory, understandably so.

Nikola Tesla understood this principle as well, as evinced by his quoted statement above.

Mystery surrounds the Wardenclyffe Tower, also called the Tesla Tower.

"The potential difference between the Earth and this region [the ionosphere] is on the order of 400,000 volts."

Tesla may not have known the exact electrical potential, but he knew it was substantial and that if it could be tapped, substantial electric power generation could be achieved.

Tesla conducted experiments in Colorado Springs with his "Magnifying Transmitter" The main componant was what Telsa called, "self-regenerative resonant transformer."

A Tesla coil.

I have stated that electric current is a self-reinforcing feedback dynamic.

Anyway, Tesla had success in Colorado Springs in tapping into "somekind" of electrical power and blew the municipal electric generator.

What I think Tesla was able to do was create an artifical (man made) "contained current-induced toroidal magnetic field," between the Earth and the ionosphere. Tesla used the Tesla coil to open a portal or window and create an artifical Birkeland current, but once the portal was opened, the very nature of electricity Tesla was counting on: Self-reinforcing feedback, soon overwhelmed the system -- an out of control electric tornado.

Yes, a Frankenstein's Monster, including the electricity, if not the "big guy", himself.

Telsa used his coil to amplify and open an electric portal. Taking advantage of the charge differential in an analogous way to taking advantage of water backed up behind a dam. Remember, it was Telsa who created electric power generation at Niagra Falls using the potential energy of the water. Tesla was supremely confident his AC power could be transmitted to Buffalo N.Y. Tesla was right.

Question: Did Tesla every figure out how to plug in somekind of generator or harness mechanism.

Perhaps, somekind of electrical solenoid: "In engineering, the term solenoid may also refer to a variety of transducer devices that convert energy into linear motion."

At Colorado Springs, the municipal generator "burned out" likely because once this artficial "electric tornado" opened the portal, too much electricity flowed and overloaded the receiving end of the municipal generator.

The toroidal manifestation of electric currents is well established and acknowledged even by "NASA as they confirmed by observation and measurement on Mars. On Earth an interesting manifestation of this phenomenon is the electric water spout. (I always thought the idea of a water spout was cool!)

The point of these examples is to suggest electric toroidal phenomenon are natural portals or windows between the ground and the ionosphere.

Tesla thought he could induce this phenomenon in a predictable and controlled fashion.

What happened at Wardenclyffe?

Rumors swirl to this day.

Supposedly J.P. Morgan cut the funding because "you can't put a meter on it."

I think that is misleading.

Tesla was reluctant to explain the "guts" of Wardenclyffe because even though he had tested the principles at Colorado Springs, control was an iffy proposition. Again, kinda like Frankenstein's Monster.

How could you put a meter on the thing if you didn't know if you could even control the electrical energy you were tapping into.

So, Tesla was vague, and with an economic downturn Morgan got cold feet (Morgan most likely didn't have the foggiest notion how it worked -- he just knew Tesla was briliant and had "scored big" before). Morgan wanted a paying proposition, Tesla promised commercial success, but really it was a giant experiment that could have led to commercial success, but not likely in its first iteration.

Tesla likely sold a prototype as a finished commerial venture -- Morgan was not interested in "prototypes", he wanted money "out of the gate."

This disconnect (irony considering what Tesla wanted to do was "make a circuit") between what Tesla could deliver and what Morgan and his investors expected caused the doom of the project.

Too bad because had the tower been demonstrated successfully, likely, J.P Morgan and his investors would have recouped their investment and much more with a ironclad patent.

The Telsa coil and electricity's tendency to self-reinforce were what Tesla was counting on: If Man could open the portal at a time, place, and manner of his choosing, Tesla was convinced he knew how to harness it for electrical power generation.

Please link the YouYube video of a "Massive Toroidal Structure Test Render 02". What does this structure look like as it developes in the video? May I suggest a window or a portal. This window or portal could carry an electric current. In fact, it's my opinion this video provides a good conception of what Tesla was hoping to accomplish and still can be accomplished: Create an electricity carrying portal, a vertical electric field.

Tesla invented a lot of things. Imagine if Mankind could induce an artificial toroidal current of electricity at a point and (very important) intensity of his choosing and then in turn harness it.

Take a look at this YouTube video of a "Charged particle in a magnetic field". The charged particle rotates in a spiral motion up through the magnetic field just like a tornado.

Consider the Tesla coil. I submit this technology was at the heart of Tesla's attempts to induce a toroidal current.

Also, check out this YouTube of a Tesla egg spinning because of electric currents.

And this "Magnetic field in a solenoid."

Truly, man can "catch lightening in a bottle."

This technology if tested, perfected, and replicated on a commercial scale could produce electricity for pennies on the dollar of current electrical generating systems.

Something to think about.

By the way, perfecting it would not only provide electrical power, it would "prove" the Electric Universe theory because only if plasma Cosmology is correct will such a gadget work!

But it would be no gadget, rather it would be Man's harnessing of Nature's workwheel as Nikola Tesla envisioned and a confirmation of Man's entering the 21st century.

Anaconda said...

"NASA as they confirmed by observation and measurement on Mars.

Feb 13, 2006
A Tornado in Space (2)
Remembering Hannes Alfvén’s Admonition --
"In the twentieth century, astronomers showed only a limited appreciation of plasma phenomena. Most ignored the role of electric currents in space plasma, a subject unfamiliar to them. As a result, the cascade of more recent observations has left astronomers grasping for explanations."

Quantum_Flux said...

I am both excited and scared of the possibilities.

Anonymous said...

Is life on Earth in immediate danger?

Quantum_Flux said...

My apologies for being a too nitpicky and off-topic here, but as far as Kantian philosophy goes (not that I understand it or care for it), but I think there is a line to be drawn that shouldn't be crossed between art propaganda and the showing of schematics. That picture you show happens to be an artists conception of Electric Cosmos Model. If you've got any real photos (optical or other wavelength with color intensity representation) to show of a Birkeland Current, that would be much better than a mere conception of the thing. Not that there is anything wrong with having an agenda to push (ECM), but I still think it relevant to have art be as schematically accurate and representative as possible so as to eliminate any possible misconceptions about the subject matter being presented, especially given the discovery nature of the topic. Eh, take it or leave it, but it's certainly put out there in the open to examine lest retardipedia allow for everybody to think E and B are somehow in phase in photons or whatnot.

Quantum_Flux said...

I might add, that is an excellent depiction of Electric Cosmos Model, but where are the real photos or where are the parameters to go with it? What is the voltage potential between the Sun and the Earth and the charge values anyhow? Clearly the sun's diameter is not larger than the radius of Earth's orbit around the sun either....

Anaconda said...

Quantum_Flux:

Which picture are you refering to?

Note that the NASA pictures reflect the megnetosphere.

If you are refering to the Wallace Thornhill schematic, that conception is being "fleshed out" as science makes additional observations and measurements.

QF, you pose solid questions regarding the charge potential between the Sun and the Earth.

Science has a lot more to do, but first the mainstream has to stop pretending electromagnetic plasma is "unimportant" in the Universe.

Then science can move forward at incredible speed. Too fast? I don't think so considering mainstream science has been going up a dead end for about a century.

It's about time it got on the right path!

Is the planet in danger?

With every great advance for Man and his technology there are "dark" alternatives if the technology is misused.

And, yes, there are "other" implications that haven't been addressed, here...yet...

BF said...

I found Louis's explanation really useful and sent it to a friend of mine to see what he thinks. I've added his reply at the bottom Louis's text.

The base of the ionosphere could be one side of a plasma double layer, the other being the earth's surface, and between these two is the earth's electric field.

Reduce the electric current maintaining the DL, and the DL reduces in diameter.

This is a similar reaction to the sun's heliopause having reduced in diameter some 25% as reported by NASA etc.

All because the galactic electric currents feeding the solar system have reduced in power, hence the lack of sunspots as well.
----
Here the property of photons as carriers of the electromagnetic force comes into action.

Given that photons are the motive force of the electrodynamic field of Earth in direct relation to solar irradiance.

If interstellar photons have reduced in power, solar photons have too.

If the photons incoming from the Sun are reduced in power, so is the Sun's electromagnetic field, which affects the electrodynamics of the electromagnetic field of the Earth in the sense that the flux of energy through it also diminishes.

The electrodynamic field strongly implies release of energy, i.e. heat.

Quantum_Flux said...

Well, I think that artist's conception shows the sun's diameter as being much larger than 1 AU (astronomical unit), but that isn't really the case at all, yet, at least not for another 5 Billion years until the hydrogen gets consumed and the sun turns into a red giant (according to what modern astronomy says).

I don't know, you don't see an issue with the misproportion in that picture Anaconda? That picture screams "be afraid, be very afraid" but it is all just very unnecessary though, there is no need to panic, the sun isn't that huge at all yet. Essentially, in the wrong context, that picture could give somebody nightmares though.

I prefer this one instead:

Sun and Earth

But that still doesn't accurately represent the situation, this one does:

Earth to the Sun (to scale)

Anaconda said...

Quantum_Flux:

Your concern about the scale of the picture is reasonable. The picture you provide is fine. The scaled schematic is also valuble because it provides a better idea how far Birkeland currents have to reach to get from the Sun to the Earth.

The scaled schematic also suggests how much energy is involved in projecting the Birkeland currents from the Sun to the Earth.

To maintain a focussed beam of electrons and charged particles 93 million miles between the Sun and the Earth must require tremendous amounts of energy -- electrical energy.

trotter said...

what if we are passing through a part of space that disturbs our earths magnetic field. that would mean that theres nothing really wrong the the earth magnetic field its being cause by something else we dont know anytthing about yet. ??

MLB2k11 said...

Thanks for sharing. It was very interesting and informative. Keep posting. I follow you.
Angry Birds Clone| Airbnb Clone|