Originally posted by UFOTECH
I know that my PM-1401GN neutron detector is often effected by cosmic rays and the only thing that stops them is a shield material with a large neutron cross section such as boron. It is supposed to only pick up gamma and neutron energies but the cosmic rays also are noticed. I have been having about the same background levels at sea level so this breach is not effecting cosmic ray levels that reach the ground.

Of course at ground level what we might think of as cosmic rays could actually be from other sources like nuclear waste stored at reactor sites. Those neutrons can travel a great distance from their source and most people are not aware of that.

>> I'm wondering of "breach" is the right word. It probably is more like a Gap. The sun-ward side of the field is intact.

If there were a huge solar flare, say on the 16th, it might have charged up the magnetosphere, or "pushed it" -- and so perhaps, having a big gap after such an event is just something they never noticed before.

I don't think we've been accurately looking at the Magnetosphere more than 30 years, possibly less than 20. So this might just be a surprising event for NASA to witness. We don't know the implications yet.

I would say that NO MAGNETOSPHERE would be a huge issue OVER TIME. Meaning, that we would lose some upper atmosphere to cosmic wind, and that we might have a severe reduction in lightning -- reducing our ozone levels.

But other than interacting to create our REAL PROTECTION; the ionosphere -- the Magnetosphere is protecting satellites and unshielded electronics -- but correct me if I'm wrong on this -- I'm not an expert, I just pay attention.

But, no dire consequences or disasters related to this.

>> It's more of a worry if our magnetic field on earth changes poles. That probably has a long -- for humans anyway -- time to re-adjust. So years of animals getting confused on migration, years of strange weather, years of an increase in UV load due to reduced Ozone. It would be survivable, but not a fun prospect with our current situation and technology.

But no real evidence of that so far -- because nobody really knows what to look for that signals a pole change.

HAARP doesn't have enough strength to do anything.
Just like the hardon collider can't produce black holes. They can't even make it work.

The Earth is communicating with the rest of the solar system seeking advice what to do with us.
Sol can eradicate us in a second. We better pray.
We also get very often within Jupiter's magnetic influence.
We are not alone.
We don't know anything about planetary or solar intelligence.
Lets not fool ourselves that we are the God given super intelligence of this Universe.
Every day there is some surprise for scientists from cosmos.
Not long ago there were inexplicable dark rivers at the end of Universe.
Then there was an every 8 minutes special direct contact with Sol.
Now Earth's magnetosphere spreading open waiting for message.
They are having a love affair and may have another favorite child very soon.
What do we know blinded with our own delusions...

Originally posted by VitriolAndAngst
>> What about the interaction of the Magnetic field to create lighting? As I understand it, they now believe that we have "space lightning" or more accurately, discharges between clouds and space. The other end -- what we see, is the discharge of the cloud to the earth. It isn't friction causing this.

We get our ozone from lightning -- and THIS is what helps the atmosphere shield us.

At a guess from what I've read, without the Magnetosphere, the ionosphere might be depleted in about 10 or more years.

Venus may have a heavy atmosphere -- but it is very different, and I don't know if it stops a lot of the UV rays with anything more than lots of sulfuric soot.

>> What do you think?

Are you talking about what are called "blue jets"? Really interesting and supposedly quite rare. They are seen from the tops of cumulonimbus clouds and reach to the lowest parts of ionosphere.

The ozone layer is actually part of the stratosphere, below the ionosphere. You are correct about the ozone layer protecting us from UV radiation. Lightning does produce ozone but most of the ozone in the ozone layer is produced by the UV radiation itself. In the process of protecting us, ozone is constantly created and destroyed by the UV radiation.

I wouldn't even guess at how long the atmosphere would last without the magnetosphere but fortunately I don't think we really have to worry about it. This breach in the magnetosphere didn't last long and, as I understand it, it didn't allow the solar wind to affect the atmosphere anyway.

[edit on 12/17/2008 by Phage]

So how long would one have to survive this event?

Could you go underground until the next solar minimum or would that not be enough?

Also are there area which will be greater or less affected by this? i think of the Bushes buying hundreds of acres in south america this past year.

I just had a thought, and I a no expert. But if this hole conitnues to spread as it starts to pass around the earth it might be the thing that causes a polar shift.

Originally posted by DangerDeath
We also get very often within Jupiter's magnetic influence.

We DO?

Hey Phage did you know about this?

BTW Nice avatar

[edit on 18-12-2008 by zorgon]