magnetospheric substorm
Quick Summary
A magnetospheric substorm is a dynamic event in Earth's upper atmosphere, driven by disturbances from the Sun. These disturbances, often in the form of coronal mass ejections, send plasma towards Earth. When this plasma interacts with Earth's magnetosphere, it can trigger a substorm.
During a substorm, energy stored in the magnetotail is released, leading to intense auroral displays in the polar regions. These events can also cause disruptions to radio communications, satellite operations, and electrical power grids. While often occurring during larger geomagnetic storms, substorms can also happen independently.123
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