The magnetotail and a full moon

[toddtw]

After reading this article on how the magnetotail affects the moon when it pauses through, I have a question. http://www.nasa.gov/topics/moonmars/features/magnetotail_080416.html

 

In what way could this affect the electromagnetic field of the earth? If the moon becomes charged from the magnetotail, would that in turn create a greater magnetic charge here on earth during those days the moon passes through it? Thanks for any insight into this.

[Acme]

After reading this article on how the magnetotail affects the moon when it pauses through, I have a question. http://www.nasa.gov/topics/moonmars/features/magnetotail_080416.html

 

In what way could this affect the electromagnetic field of the earth? If the moon becomes charged from the magnetotail, would that in turn create a greater magnetic charge here on earth during those days the moon passes through it? Thanks for any insight into this.

It wont' have any effect on Earth's magnetic field because the magnetotail is always going/pointing away from Earth and the Moon does not have an active magnetic field. (The Moon does have local magnetism that varies depending on the area it is found in, but this magnetism does not extend far from the surface.)

[toddtw]

Thank you for your answer. Could the moon obstructing the magnetotail cause any of the elecromagnetic radiation to be reflected back to the earth? I realize not much is known about the magnetotail but I'm curious if the surface of the moon would be conducive to reflecting any of it back.

[Acme]

Thank you for your answer. Could the moon obstructing the magnetotail cause any of the elecromagnetic radiation to be reflected back to the earth? I realize not much is known about the magnetotail but I'm curious if the surface of the moon would be conducive to reflecting any of it back.

You're welcome. No, there is no reflection. The magnetotail exists because charged particles from the Sun -which carry the Sun's magnetism to Earth- deform and stretch Earth's magnetic field. This deformation is dynamic, i.e. always changing in intensity and size, but the deformation always streams away from Earth in a direction opposite the side of Earth facing the Sun. While there is still much to learn about the magnetotail and Earth's and the Sun's magnetism, there is actually quite a bit that is known.

[toddtw]

Would you say that a lot of the deformation and intensity is dependent on where the moon is? During a new moon for example, the moon would be blocking some of the solar wind so I imagine there would be less intensity and deformation, correct?

[Acme]

Would you say that a lot of the deformation and intensity is dependent on where the moon is? During a new moon for example, the moon would be blocking some of the solar wind so I imagine there would be less intensity and deformation, correct?

Good question. While I don't recall reading anything on the effect of the Sun-side Moon on Earth's magnetic field, it does seem logical to expect some 'shadow' effect in relation to the solar wind. If it were significant however, I would expect to have seen something on it. (Not that I have read everything on the subject, but I have read quite a bit.) Since the Moon is not always directly aligned between Sun & Earth (else we would have a solar eclipse every month) and because the Moon is in constant motion it seems to me that the effect would be generally minimal. I suggest we both do some looking and report back.

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PS I have found no study yet on the Moon shading effect on Earth from the solar wind, but I did read some [standard] things that prompt further considerations. Not only is the Moon's shadow on Earth during eclipses a rather small area, but because the solar wind has a [somewhat] fixed velocity that is well below the speed of light, a patch of lowered, i.e. reduced in number, charged particles trailing behind the Moon would still have approx. 1/4 million miles to travel before arriving at Earth. Since the Earth is moving in its orbit it may not intercept that patch.

 

The specifics I will leave to those better practiced in these types of calculations.

Edited August 13, 2014 by Acme