ionospheric dynamo
Quick Summary
The ionospheric dynamo is an electric current system flowing in Earth's ionosphere, the region extending from about 50 to over 1,000 kilometers above the surface. This current is primarily generated by the action of sunlight on atmospheric particles, which strips electrons from atoms, creating a plasma.1
The movement of this plasma across Earth's magnetic field, driven by atmospheric winds (influenced by solar and lunar tides and solar heating), creates electric fields and currents. These currents are a source of Earth's magnetic field. The strength and pattern of the ionospheric dynamo are influenced by factors such as the distribution of winds, ionospheric conductivity, the solar cycle, and even solar flares and eclipses.123
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
