An overview of the magnetosphere, substorms and geomagnetic storms

Abstract

The magnetosphere is the region of space to which the Earth’s magnetic field is confined by the solar wind plasma which is continuously being blown outward from the Sun. The magnetosphere of the Earth extends to distances in excess of 60,000 kilometers on the Sunward side and to about million kilometers from Earth on the anti-sunward side, respectively. Much has been learned about this dynamic plasma region over the past 40 years from the direct measurements by various spacecrafts. This review first gives a brief introduction to this dynamic region of Earth’s near space environment and then discusses important characteristics of magnetospheric substorms and storms, and their role in controlling the space weather processes.