Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1107 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1107 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1108 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1108 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1109 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1109 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1110 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1110 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1111 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1111 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1112 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1112 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1113 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1113 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1114 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1114 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1115 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1115 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1116 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1116 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1117 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1117 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1118 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1118 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1119 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1119 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1120 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1120 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1121 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1121 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1122 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1122 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1123 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1123 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1124 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1124 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1125 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1125 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1126 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1126 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1127 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1127 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1129 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1129 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1131 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1131 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1132 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1132 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1133 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1133 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1134 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1134 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1136 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1136 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1137 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1137 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1138 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1138 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1139 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1139 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1141 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1141 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1143 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1143 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1145 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1145 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1146 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1146 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1147 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1147 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1148 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1148 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1149 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1149 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 1150 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=1150 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 3925 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=3925 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 6024 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=6024 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 6025 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=6025 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 6026 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=6026 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 6027 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=6027 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 6028 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=6028 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 6261 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=6261 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Error finding element ImageSmall

Error finding ID 6263 in

Error finding content SELECT * FROM win_content WHERE PageID=6263 AND Element= AND (Level='high' OR Level='all') AND Lang='en'

Plasmasphere - Windows to the Universe
This image is a summary of the main features of the plasmasphere: the plasmapause, main body of the plasmasphere, dusk-bulge region and detached plasma regions outside the main body of the plasmasphere
Click on image for full size

Related links:

What is a Magnetosphere?

The Earth's Plasmasphere

The plasmasphere is a torus-shaped region within the Earth's magnetosphere. The Earth's plasmasphere is made of just that - plasma. It has a very sharp edge called the plasmapause at equatorial distances of 4-6 Earth radii. The plasmapause, where densities drop by a factor of 10-100 in a relatively short distance, was discovered in 1963.

The plasmasphere is essentially an extension of the ionosphere to high altitudes. Inside of the plasmapause, geomagnetic field lines rotate with the Earth. Plasma, flowing up from the ionosphere, is trapped on these corotating field lines and builds up to high densities. Outside the plasmapause, magnetic field lines are unable to corotate because they are influenced strongly by electric fields of solar wind origin. They convect to the magnetopause boundary on the day side of the Earth, sweeping the ionospheric plasma out of the magnetosphere and forming the sharp plasmasphere boundary. The plasmasphere bulges out to greater distances on the dusk side of the Earth.

The plasmasphere is composed mostly of hydrogen ions. The plasma density ranges from 104 cm-3 just above the topside ionosphere to 102 cm-3 within and 10 cm-3 just exterior to the plasmapause. The base of the plasmasphere is taken as the altitude (~ 1000 kilometers) at which protons replace oxygen as the dominant species in the ionospheric plasma. The ion temperature in the plasmasphere is generally between 0.5 eV and several eV (1 eV = 11,700 K).

You might also be interested in:

Traveling Nitrogen Classroom Activity Kit

Check out our online store - minerals, fossils, books, activities, jewelry, and household items!...more

The Plasma State

Plasma is known as the fourth state of matter (the first three states being solid, liquid and gas).Matter in ordinary conditions on Earth has electrons that orbit around the atomic nucleus. The electrons...more

The Magnetic Field

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 Plasma Sheet

The plasma sheet is simply that, a sheet of plasma that extends down the magnetotail dividing the two lobes of the Earth's magnetic field. The particle density here is about 0.5 cm-3 for both electrons...more

Radiation Belts

The Earth's radiation belts are one component of the larger and more complex system called the magnetosphere. The radiation belts of the Earth are made up of energetic, electrically charged particles or...more

Space Missions to study Earth's Atmosphere & Climate

Television weather forecasts in the space age routinely feature satellite views of cloud cover. Cameras and other instruments on spacecraft provide many types of valuable data about Earth's atmosphere...more

Magnetosphere

A magnetosphere has many parts, such as the bow shock, magnetosheath, magnetotail, plasmasheet, lobes, plasmasphere, radiation belts and many electric currents. It is composed of charged particles and...more

AU

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

Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA