In reply to Remi Cornwall's message of Mon, 11 Sep 2006 12:11:44 +0100: Hi, [snip] >>Robin> It is well known that when magnetic field lines are broken, and >reconnect, considerable energy is released. Where does this energy come >from, and why should it not be equally true here on Earth as it is in the >Solar corona or in the Earth's magnetic tail? > > > >>Remi> Anyway that stuff about sunspots, contorted field lines and SMEs is >thought to occur because the Sun's rotational energy and the energy of the >plasma gets stored in the magnetic field which like an over-stretched >elastic band suddenly releases its energy in finding a newer more simple >configuration. > > > >It is also the mechanism why the photosphere is at 2Million K whilst the >surface is at 6000K.
...which basically is why I brought it up. My point is that this also happens in the Van Allen belts, and those same field lines extend right through the planet, and also present themselves near the surface where we can interact with them. IOW what happens if they are broken and reconnect near the surface instead of out in space? Do we then collect energy dumped into the field by the impinging Solar wind? Regards, Robin van Spaandonk http://users.bigpond.net.au/rvanspaa/ Competition provides the motivation, Cooperation provides the means.
