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ambience: Radio wave emission, electromagnetic signals
How’s the weather out in space? Well, you’re listening to it. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.
“What we’re hearing is chorus right now and when that’s happening it usually coincides with a magnetic storm on Earth and that’s when Earth’s magnetic field is undergoing abnormal movement caused by effects on the sun.”
Steve McGreevy is a sound recordist based in California. With the help of a special antennae and radio receiver, he listens to what’s called chorus: the very low frequency electromagnetic waves which are created when charged particles from the sun reach the Earth’s magnetic field.
“What’s happened is the sun has burped out a solar flare or what they call a coronal mass ejection. This energy travels several hundred kilometers per second and so eventually, within about twenty four hours or less, it impacts the Earth’s magnetic field and causes it to pulsate. Imagine a bubble floating with wind currents pushing against it. You can see it deform. Well that’s essentially what happens with Earth’s magnetic field.”
Once this energy from the sun collides with the Earth, it disturbs the Earth’s magnetic field, generating the electromagnetic radio waves that we’ve been listening to.
Well, here’s a chance for you to generate some waves of your own and tell us about the seasonal or cyclical events happening in your corner of the solar system. Please call our toll free number 1-877-Pulse-99– that’s toll free, 1-877-Pulse-99– with the seasonal or cyclical events that you celebrate or observe.
Pulse of the Planet is presented by the National Science Foundation. I’m Jim Metzner.
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