A magnetic storm is a period of rapid Magnetic Field variation. It can last from hours to days. Magnetic storms have two basic causes:
- The Sun sometimes emits a strong surge of solar wind called a coronal mass ejection. This gust of solar wind disturbs the outer part of the Earth’s magnetic field, which undergoes a complex oscillation. This generates associated electric currents in the near-Earth space Environment, which in turn generates additional magnetic-field variations — all of which constitute a “magnetic storm.”
- Occasionally, the Sun’s magnetic field directly links with that of the Earth. This direct magnetic connection is not the normal state of affairs, but when it occurs, charged particles, traveling along magnetic-field lines, can easily enter the magnetosphere, generate currents, and cause the magnetic field to undergo time-dependent variation. Sometimes the Sun emits a coronal mass ejection at a time when the magnetic-field lines of the Earth and Sun are directly connected. Then we can experience a truly large magnetic storm.
Magnetic meridian
The magnetic meridian is an equivalent imaginary line connecting the magnetic south and north poles and can be taken as the horizontal component of magnetic force lines along the surface of the earth. Therefore, a compass needle will be parallel to the magnetic meridian.
Geographical meridian
A geographical meridian (or line of longitude) is the half of an imaginary great circle on the Earth’s surface, terminated by the North Pole and the South Pole, connecting points of equal longitude. The position of a point along the meridian is given by its latitude indicating how many degrees north or south of the Equator the point is. Each meridian is perpendicular to all circles of latitude. Each is also the same length, being half of a great circle on the Earth’s surface and therefore measuring 20,003.93 km (12,429.9 miles).
Toward the ending of the 19th century there were two main locations that were acknowledged as the geographic location of the meridian, France and Britain. These two locations often conflicted and a settlement was reached only after there was an International Meridian Conference held, in which Greenwich was recognized as the 0° location.
The meridian through Greenwich (inside Greenwich Park), England, called the Prime Meridian, was set at zero degrees of longitude, while other meridians were defined by the angle at the center of the earth between where it and the prime meridian cross the equator. As there are 360 degrees in a circle, the meridian on the opposite side of the earth from Greenwich, the anti meridian, forms the other half of a circle with the one through Greenwich, and is at 180° longitude near the International Date Line (with land mass and island deviations for boundary reasons). The meridians from West of Greenwich (0°) to the anti meridian (180°) define the Western Hemisphere and the meridians from East of Greenwich (0°) to the anti meridian (180°) define the Eastern Hemisphere. Most maps show the lines of longitude.
The position of the prime meridian has changed a few times throughout history, mainly due to the transit observatory being built next door to the previous one (to maintain the service to shipping). Such changes had no significant practical effect. Historically, the Average error in the determination of longitude was much larger than the change in position. The adoption of WGS84 (“World Geodetic System 84”) as the positioning system has moved the geodetic prime meridian 102.478 metres east of its last astronomic position (measured at Greenwich). The position of the current geodetic prime meridian is not identified at all by any kind of sign or marking (as the older astronomic position was) in Greenwich, but can be located using a GPS receiver.
Impact of Prime Meridian ( Greenwich Time)
It was in the best interests of the nations to agree to one standard meridian to benefit their fast growing economy and production. The disorganized system they had before was not sufficient for their increasing mobility. The coach Services in England had erratic timing before the GWT. U.S. and Canada were also improving their railroad system and needed a standard time as well. With a standard meridian, stage coach and trains were able to be more efficient. The argument of which meridian is more scientific was set aside in order to find the most convenient for practical reasons. They were also able to agree that the universal day was going to be the mean solar day.
The meridian passage is the moment when a celestial object passes the meridian of longitude of the observer. At this point, the celestial object is at its highest point. When the sun passes two times an altitude while rising and setting can be averaged to give the time of meridian passage. Navigators utilized the sun’s declination and the sun’s altitude at local meridian passage, in order to calculate their latitude with the formula.
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A magnetic storm is a disturbance in the Earth’s magnetosphere caused by a solar wind shock wave and/or a coronal mass ejection. The most intense magnetic storms can cause power grid failures, satellite outages, and radio blackouts.
The Earth’s magnetic field is generated by the movement of molten iron in the planet’s core. This field protects the Earth from harmful radiation from the sun and other sources. The magnetic field is not uniform, but has regions of higher and lower intensity. These regions are called magnetic poles. The north magnetic pole is currently located near Ellesmere Island in northern Canada, and the south magnetic pole is currently located near Antarctica.
The magnetic meridian is an imaginary line that runs from the north magnetic pole to the south magnetic pole. It is the line along which the Earth’s magnetic field is vertical. The magnetic meridian is not the same as the geographical meridian, which is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole and is perpendicular to the Earth’s equator.
The magnetic meridian and the geographical meridian are not always aligned. This is because the Earth’s magnetic field is constantly changing. The magnetic poles wander over time, and the magnetic field itself can strengthen or weaken. This means that the magnetic meridian can shift relative to the geographical meridian.
The magnetic meridian is important for navigation. It can be used to determine the direction of true north, which is the direction that points directly to the North Pole. True north is different from magnetic north, which is the direction that points to the north magnetic pole. The difference between true north and magnetic north is called the magnetic declination.
The magnetic declination is not constant. It changes over time and from place to place. This is because the Earth’s magnetic field is constantly changing. The magnetic declination can be found on maps, and it is important to take it into account when using a compass for navigation.
Magnetic storms can cause the magnetic declination to change rapidly. This can make it difficult to navigate using a compass. Magnetic storms can also cause power grid failures, satellite outages, and radio blackouts.
The Earth’s magnetic field is a complex and dynamic system. It is constantly changing, and it is affected by the sun and other sources of radiation. The magnetic field protects the Earth from harmful radiation, and it is important for navigation. Magnetic storms can cause the magnetic field to change rapidly, and they can have a significant impact on human technology.
Magnetic meridian
A magnetic meridian is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that connects points with the same magnetic declination. The magnetic declination is the angle between true north and magnetic north.
Geographical meridian
A geographical meridian is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. The geographical meridians are perpendicular to the equator.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a magnetic meridian?
A magnetic meridian is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that connects points with the same magnetic declination. The magnetic declination is the angle between true north and magnetic north. - What is a geographical meridian?
A geographical meridian is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. The geographical meridians are perpendicular to the equator. - What is the difference between a magnetic meridian and a geographical meridian?
A magnetic meridian is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that connects points with the same magnetic declination. The magnetic declination is the angle between true north and magnetic north. A geographical meridian is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. The geographical meridians are perpendicular to the equator. - What is the importance of magnetic meridians?
Magnetic meridians are important because they can be used to navigate. By knowing the magnetic declination at a particular location, you can use a compass to find true north. - What is the importance of geographical meridians?
Geographical meridians are important because they can be used to define time zones. The Prime Meridian is the line that is used to define Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Short answers
- A magnetic meridian is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that connects points with the same magnetic declination.
- A geographical meridian is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole.
- The difference between a magnetic meridian and a geographical meridian is that a magnetic meridian is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that connects points with the same magnetic declination, while a geographical meridian is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole.
- Magnetic meridians are important because they can be used to navigate.
- Geographical meridians are important because they can be used to define time zones.
- The magnetic meridian is the line along which the compass needle points north.
- The geographical meridian is the line of longitude that passes through the North Pole and the South Pole.
- The Earth’s magnetic field is a field of force that surrounds the Earth and is generated by the movement of molten iron in the Earth’s core.
- The Earth’s magnetic field protects the Earth from harmful radiation from the sun.
The Earth’s magnetic field is constantly changing, and these changes can be used to study the Earth’s interior.
The magnetic meridian is the line along which the compass needle points north.
True or False?
- The geographical meridian is the line of longitude that passes through the North Pole and the South Pole.
True or False?
- The Earth’s magnetic field is a field of force that surrounds the Earth and is generated by the movement of molten iron in the Earth’s core.
True or False?
- The Earth’s magnetic field protects the Earth from harmful radiation from the sun.
True or False?
- The Earth’s magnetic field is constantly changing, and these changes can be used to study the Earth’s interior.
True or False?
- The magnetic meridian is the line along which the compass needle points north.
True.
- The geographical meridian is the line of longitude that passes through the North Pole and the South Pole.
False. The geographical meridian is the line of longitude that passes through a particular place on Earth.
- The Earth’s magnetic field is a field of force that surrounds the Earth and is generated by the movement of molten iron in the Earth’s core.
True.
- The Earth’s magnetic field protects the Earth from harmful radiation from the sun.
True.
- The Earth’s magnetic field is constantly changing, and these changes can be used to study the Earth’s interior.
True.