What effect does the solar wind have on the earth?

When the solar wind reaches the vicinity of the earth, it interacts with the dipole magnetic field of the earth, blowing back the magnetic lines of the earth's magnetic field. However, the magnetic pressure of the geomagnetic field hinders the movement of the plasma, making it impossible for the solar wind to invade the earth's atmosphere and continue to move around the geomagnetic field. So a cavity is formed, and the geomagnetic field is contained in this cavity. The geomagnetic field looks like an egg with a big head and a small head at this time.

However, when the sun has a sudden violent activity, the situation will change. At this time, the high-energy ions in the solar wind will increase, and these high-energy ions can invade the polar regions of the earth along the magnetic field lines; And discharge in the upper atmosphere of the earth's poles, producing gorgeous and spectacular aurora.

Small flash is a very common thing. In places with dense sunspots, as many as 100 times a day can be observed, especially when sunspots "grow". Huge flashes like those seen by Carrington are rare and only happen a few times a year.

Sometimes, the flash happens right in the center of the sun's surface, so it explodes in the direction of the earth. After such an explosion, strange things will appear again and again on the earth. For several days, the aurora will be very strong, sometimes even in temperate regions. The hands of the compass will also be restless and swing wildly, so this effect is sometimes called "magnetic storm". With the progress of science and technology, the mystery of aurora is more and more known to us. It turns out that this beautiful scenery is the work of cooperation between the sun and the atmosphere. Among the forms of energy created by the sun, such as light and heat, one is called "solar wind". The solar wind is charged particles ejected by the sun, and it is a powerful stream of charged subatomic particles, which can cover the earth. The solar wind flows around the earth over the earth and hits the earth's magnetic field at a speed of about 400 kilometers per second. The earth's magnetic field is shaped like a funnel, with its tip facing the north and south poles of the earth, so charged particles emitted by the sun settle along the "funnel" of the earth's magnetic field and enter the polar regions of the earth. The upper atmosphere of the poles, bombarded by the solar wind, will glow and form aurora. What is formed in the Antarctic region is called Antarctic light. What is formed in the North Pole is called the Northern Lights.