magnetic storm

American  

noun

1. a temporary disturbance of the earth's magnetic field, induced by radiation and streams of charged particles from the sun.

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magnetic storm British  

noun

1. a sudden severe disturbance of the earth's magnetic field, caused by emission of charged particles from the sun

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magnetic storm Scientific  

1. A disturbance or fluctuation in the Earth's outer magnetosphere, usually caused by streams of charged particles (plasma) given off by solar flares. The entry of large amounts of plasma into the upper atmosphere results in intense auroral displays and other magnetic phenomena in the polar regions of the Earth.

2. See also aurora

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magnetic storm Cultural  

1. The effect on the ionosphere of large bursts of charged particles (see electrical charge) from the sun.

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Discover More

During a magnetic storm, radio reception can become very difficult.

Etymology

Origin of magnetic storm

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Colorful auroras appeared around Japan's Honshu and Hokkaido islands on May 11, 2024, sparked by an intense magnetic storm.

From Science Daily • Dec. 5, 2024

Associated with the current high sunspot activity, the magnetic storm caused transatlantic telephone communication by short-wave radio to go haywire.

From Time Magazine Archive

The magnetic storm which disrupted communications Easter Sunday was probably started, thinks Professor Menzel, when the earth coursed through the tail end of a corona streamer.

From Time Magazine Archive

It all reflected, said Dr. A. G. McNish, authority on the earth's magnetism, in Washington last week for a meeting of the American Geophysical Union, the worst magnetic storm in a century.

From Time Magazine Archive

What we should conclude is that the solar activity which produces a spot also produces the magnetic storm.

From Side-Lights on Astronomy and Kindred Fields of Popular Science by Newcomb, Simon