1. Justin R Bergonio 2 May 2012 PHYS 305
Modeling the Earths Magnetic Field Interaction with the Solar Wind: Design Review
Justin R Bergonio
2 May 2012
PHYS 305

2. Overview Introduction Goal: Level 1 The Kernel Level 1: Status
Earth’s Invisible Shield
Solar Flares vs. CME’s
Goal: Level 1
The Kernel
Level 1: Status
Goal: Level 2

3. Earth’s Invisible Shield
Earth’s magnetic field
Created by liquid Fe core
Approx. dipole field
0.25 to 0.65 Gauss
Solar Wind
Stream of charged particles
Ejected from Sun’s upper atmosphere
Travels at 400 km/s (

4. Oh Mr. Sun, Please Don’t Shine Down On Me Too Hard
Solar Flare
CME
Solar flare:
Localized burst from sunspots
Dangerous because more localized
Coronal Mass Ejection
Large burst of solar wind
Not localized, large!
Topic of interest because:
Sun has 11 year cycle
At end of 11 year cycle, solar activity peaks/increases (solar max)
Increase in sunspots  increase in solar flares
5 CME’s produce per day at solar max.
Geomagnetic storms = fucks shit up
(Source: NASA)
(Source: NASA)

5. Goals: Level 1 Model the Earth’s magnetic field:
In a simple magnetic dipole case
Against solar wind
Interaction with solar flares and CME’s
(Source:
(Source: NASA)

6. General Equations
Cartesian Coordinates
Spherical Coordinates

7. The Kernel Generate y Generate z Calculate resultant B-field vector
No!
Do you want
this point?
One more
time!
YES!
Output to file

8. Level 1: Status
(Physics of the Earth and Space Envrionment: Introduction by Prolls)

9. DONE! Right? Magnetic field lines [X] Magnetic dipole [X]
REALISTIC [ ]

10. Goal: Leveling Up Model the Earth’s magnetic field:
In a simple magnetic dipole case
Against solar wind
Interaction with solar flares and CME’s
(Source:
(Source: NASA)