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Dictionary definition: solar-terrestrial relationships
- Article from:
- A Dictionary of Weather
- Author:
Copyright© A Dictionary of Weather 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information)
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solar-terrestrial relationships
The Sun exerts an influence on the Earth not only through the light and heat that it emits, but also through the
solar wind
, which controls the size and shape of the
magnetosphere
and the flux of
cosmic rays
received by the Earth. There are thought to be secular changes in the
solar constant
, and these may have long-term implications for
climatic change
. More immediate fluctuations in the
geomagnetic field
are caused by variations in
solar activity
, particularly
solar flares
, which fluctuate in numbers and strength with the
solar cycle
. Energetic particles ejected by solar flares cause
aurorae
,
geomagnetic storms
, and alterations in the
ionosphere
.
...