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Back Dynamics of Earth's Magnetotail

Dynamics of Earth's Magnetotail


Date: 14 March 2004
Satellite: Cluster
Depicts: Earth's Magnetotail
Copyright: Dr. Chris Owen, MSSL, Dorking, UK

A schematic drawing of the dynamics of the Earth's magnetotail. The Earth's magnetic field lines stretch far into the nightside, forming a long magnetotail that develops into an unstable situation. As a result of magnetic reconnection, a large amount of energy is released towards the Earth's atmosphere and a plasmoid, a magnetic bubble escapes from the magnetosphere back into the solar wind.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
12-Mar-2026 22:50 UT

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