Magnetic field processes

[spacerings]

I am reading about earth's magnetic field. What does this mean? "The solar wind shapes the Earth's magnetosphere and supplies energy to its many processes."http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/Education/wsolwind.html What processes are going on?

 

[Saiph]

basically, the incomming particles have their own magnetic field, and their own charge. This can deform earths magnetic field from the ideal spherical shape.<br /><br />One example of a "process" is the north and south polar auroras. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"This is my Timey Wimey Detector.  Goes "bing" when there's stuff.  It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually.  I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>