The IMF is represented by the blue arcs in the picture above. This picture shows the spiral nature of the IMF.
Click on image for full size
NASA
IMF
IMF stands for Interplanetary Magnetic Field. It is another name for the Sun's magnetic field.
The Sun's magnetic field is enormous and is carried by the solar wind. The solar wind and magnetic field are twisted into a spiral by the Sun's rotation. All the planets reside within this field, which is why the Sun's magnetic field can be called interplanetary.
Eventually the solar wind and IMF encounter the interstellar magnetic field and plasma of interstellar space. The boundary between space dominated by the Sun (or the heliosphere) and interstellar space is called the heliopause.
You might also be interested in:
The force of magnetism causes material to point along the direction the magnetic force points. This property implies that the force of magnetism has a direction. As shown in the diagram to the left, the
...more
The solar wind is formed as the Sun's topmost layer blows off into space carrying with it magnetic fields still attached to the Sun. Gusts and disturbances form in the solar wind associated with violent
...more
Motions within Earth's metallic core generate the planet's global magnetic field. This magnetic field extends beyond Earth's surface and atmosphere into the space surrounding our home planet. The interaction
...more
AU stands for Astronomical Units. Distances in space are too large to measure in Earth standards like miles or kilometers. For distances too large to measue in AU, we use light years. A light year is the
...more
For a planet to be affected by a blob of material being ejected by the sun, the planet must be in the path of the blob, as shown in this picture. The Earth and its magnetosphere are shown in the bottom
...more
The aurora we are most familiar with is the polar aurora. This is what people are referring to when they speak of the northern or southern lights. But there are other less-known auroral activity, such
...more
This figure shows the effect of the aurora on the atmosphere. When FAC's enter the atmosphere and create the aurora, they warm the atmosphere impulsively. This impulse travels throughout the atmosphere
...more
