This is a model of how the atmosphere may respond to the coming of FAC's into the atmosphere.
Click on image for full size
T. Killeen
The Effect of Aurora on the Atmosphere
This figure shows the effect of the aurora on the atmosphere. When FAC's enter the atmosphere and create the aurora, they heat the atmosphere suddenly and abruptly. This creates an impulse which travels throughout the atmosphere and reverberates for a long time, as shown here.
Thus, the creation of the aurora helps to transfer energy from the solar wind, through the magnetosphere, to the atmosphere.
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