magnetosphere

American  

[mag-nee-tuh-sfeer] / mægˈni təˌsfɪər /

noun

Astronomy.

1. the outer region of the earth's ionosphere, where the earth's magnetic field controls the motion of charged particles, as in the Van Allen belts.

2. such a region of another planet.

   Jupiter's magnetosphere.

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magnetosphere British  

/ mæɡˌniːtəʊˈsfɛrɪk, mæɡˈniːtəʊˌsfɪə /

noun

1. the region surrounding a planet, such as the earth, in which the behaviour of charged particles is controlled by the planet's magnetic field

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magnetosphere Scientific  

/ măg-nē′tō-sfîr′ /

1. A highly asymmetrical region surrounding the Earth, beginning about 100 km (62 mi) above the surface on the side of the Earth facing the Sun and extending hundreds of thousands of kilometers into space on the opposite side. In this region the Earth's magnetic field exerts a significant influence on any charged particles that encounter it. The magnetosphere deflects most of the charged particles in the solar wind, but also traps and deflects some of these particles toward the Earth's magnetic poles, causing magnetic storms and auroras.

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Other Word Forms

• magnetospheric adjective

Etymology

Origin of magnetosphere

First recorded in 1955–60; magneto- + -sphere

Example Sentences

This magnetosphere, in the region above the ionosphere, shields all life on Earth, and its atmosphere, from damaging solar winds and the corrosive effects of solar radiation.

From Washington Post

Inside, molten iron presumably still flows to generate a bubble of magnetic fields called a magnetosphere similar to the one that protects Earth from the wind of charged particles from the sun.

From New York Times

This could help scientists understand the link between Ganymede’s ionosphere, magnetic field and Jupiter’s magnetosphere, he said.

From Washington Times

Despite its status as a moon, it’s larger than the tiny planet Mercury and is the only moon to sport a magnetic field, a bubble of charged particles dubbed a magnetosphere.

From Scientific American

The plasma emitted from these ejections pummel Earth’s protective magnetosphere and slide around into its polar regions, clashing with the atmosphere and giving rise to the Northern and Southern Lights, or aurora.

From The Verge