Alexey Dmitriev has closely monitored the increasing presence of plasma in our solar system, believing it has caused several changes on planetary level – such as shifting magnetic poles on Earth and Neptune and altered dynamics between dark spots and light spots on Jupiter.
Plasma in the Solar System
Plasmas can be found everywhere – in the solar corona and wind, magnetospheres of Earth and other planets, comet tails and even interstellar space. Plasma is responsible for many complex effects related to their origin – these phenomena being related to Sun power and magnetic fields as well as serving communications purposes, nuclear fusion and medical procedures like magnetic resonance imaging. Space scientists study them extensively.
Plasma in the corona consists of highly charged, ionized hydrogen and helium created from nuclear reactions at the Sun, that could disrupt both telecom and power grid infrastructure on Earth if it were to reach it. Solar winds release constant streams of this charged material into space while massive coronal mass ejections release vast quantities at once into space at once, triggering geomagnetic storms on Earth as well as destabilizing power grids and electronic communications systems.
Solar winds are composed of particles accelerated by the Sun’s gravity that move quickly through space, with speeds and densities that vary over time and across latitude and longitude. Earth’s magnetic field deflects most charged particles but some still reach our atmosphere and ionosphere where they cause geomagnetic storms. Furthermore, its magnetic field extends into space to form an “enclosure” known as the heliosphere which encases it beyond Pluto’s orbit surrounded by an outer shell of interstellar space.
Plasmas are distinguished by their high thermal kinetic energy, meaning they have lots of momentum and heat, creating electromagnetic fields and waves far removed from those seen here on Earth. Plasmas consist of electrons and ions with equal yet opposite charges that create magnetic forces; their low neutral particle density makes them highly conductive while giving rise to various complex phenomena.
Magnetic Pole Shift
When solar radiation and cosmic rays threaten to penetrate Earth’s surface, its vast magnetic field protects us by deflecting this energy away. But its internal forces may change over time, potentially having profound ramifications on both atmosphere and climate on this planet.
Scientists can observe these changes by studying geologic samples such as rocks and lavas from Earth as well as satellite data. Since Arctic explorer James Clark Ross first located the current north magnetic pole location in 1831, its movement has increased by an acceleration of 10-34% per year; although scientists cannot say with absolute certainty whether this acceleration signals an impending magnetic field reversal event, it certainly suggests we could soon reach an era where poles could swap places.
Magnetic field reversals occur every few hundred thousand years or so; the last one was approximately 780,000 years ago. Unfortunately, however, their timing remains unpredictable, making it hard for scientists to anticipate when one will take place. We can still map and monitor where the north magnetic pole currently resides using both local measurements and models until that day arrives.
One of the most striking effects of a magnetic pole shift occurs when its field weakens, which allows charged particles to freely flow into the atmosphere and interact with ozone molecules, potentially damaging and depleting them, decreasing stratospheric ozone’s ability to protect humans and other living things from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Reversals expose Earth to high amounts of ionic radiation, which can damage tissue and lead to cancers. Furthermore, increased ionization affects how much sunlight reaches its surface – having an enormous impact on global climate.
Reversals can have severe repercussions for society by altering sunlight distribution, leading to diseases and mental illnesses as well as disrupting navigation systems used by cell phones, ships, aircraft and cars. A recent study conducted by a science team used radiocarbon dating technology to link temporary reversals known as Laschamps Excursion with climate changes, mammal extinctions and even the appearance of Neanderthals in New Zealand.
Cosmic Rays
Cosmological rays, comprised of atomic nuclei and free electrons that possess mass instead of being massless particles like electromagnetic radiation, have long been recognized for ionizing the atmosphere to affect cloud formation. Their effect can be felt daily across our planet.
Scientists have long wondered how ionizing cosmic rays, which move through our atmosphere at high speed, might affect our climate. One theory suggests that cosmic rays could alter climate by modulating atmospheric ionization levels which is in turn affected by solar activity; high solar activity deflecting more cosmic rays which in turn reduce atmospheric ionization rates leading to climate conditions like ice ages or warming periods.
Recently, scientists established a connection between galactic environment and climate on Earth. Evidence comes from studying exposure ages of iron meteorites – these dates are determined by how much radioactive and stable isotopes have accumulated due to interactions with cosmic rays bombarding our solar system – and Earth. By comparing exposure ages of meteorites formed at different epochs, scientists can reconstruct cosmic ray flux levels at those times.
Meteorites studied extensively have revealed seven clear cycles, with an average period between 30-40 million years. These cycles can be linked to our solar system as it orbits around our galaxy; their oscillations caused by denser density gradients; closer to its center, denser densities thicken up faster and orbital periods shorten; farther from it thinner densities lengthen out exponentially, eventually yielding longer orbital periods than expected.
Another line of evidence comes in the form of correlations between cosmic ray flux and sunspot cycle. At peak sunspot activity levels, high levels of cosmic rays are expected to irradiate Earth – thought to have an impactful influence on cloud formation and subsequent global temperature regulation through what’s known as greenhouse effect.
