Why is Canada affected by space weather?
The Earth’s magnetic field has two poles, where the field is directed toward the Earth’s surface at the North Pole and away from the Earth’s surface at the South Pole. The North Magnetic Pole is located in the Arctic Ocean near the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Interactions of the Earth’s electromagnetic field with the interplanetary disturbances are especially strong in the polar areas and in the surrounding auroral zones’, where most auroras can be seen. Given its geographic location in northern latitudes, Canada is among the countries most affected by space weather, hence the need for close study and assessment of space weather conditions and their effects on technology (see Figure 1). [D] Click for larger version, 74 KB Figure 1.
