Blowing hot and cold

Did you know that the earth's magnetic field is weakening? Did you know that it has already reached nil in certain areas across the Atlantic? And that this is a process that will soon spread to other regions? And then what? Catastrophe of course. This magnetic field that originates in the earth's metallic core due to the dynamo effect created by a spinning, conducting earth, protects us from the harmful effects of cosmic particles and solar radiation. Without it, our whole electronic system will go haywire...

And now, Nasa says the Earth's upper atmosphere has had a record breaking collapse. The collapse occurred during a period of low solar activity known as a "solar minimum." During a solar minimum, sunspots and solar flare activity heavily diminish. This collapse occurred during the 2008-2009 solar minimum. While these minimums are known to cool and contract the thermosphere, this collapse was 3-times greater than low solar activity could explain.

Earth's thermosphere ranges in altitude from 55 miles to 370 miles above ground, so it is heavily affected by solar activity. This layer is responsible for intercepting extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) before it hits the Earth's surface.

How about targetting the favourite villain - carbon dioxide? After all it does act as a coolant, shedding heat through infrared radiation. This cooling may be magnified during a solar minimum. No luck, factoring in the gas didnt help the calculations!

So what's going on up there, and down under?? We still do not know lots about our planet. Just enough to realise that it has evolved in the right way to sustain life. But, for how long?