Context: Recently, Scientists at the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) have developed a generalized one-dimensional fluid simulation code capable of studying a wide spectrum of coherent electric field structures in near-earth plasma environments or earth’s magnetosphere.
Key Points

• It has been easy to understand the morphology of the plasma processes around the satellite. 
• However, a vast blind arena is created when they leave the observational domain of one satellite to enter into another. 
• The way the morphology of these processes changes over time and space can be deciphered only through the help of computer simulations.
• In order to tackle the problem, a generalized 1D fluid code was developed by the team. It modeled the coherent electric field structures space plasmas.

Importance of this code

• In universe, almost 99% matter is in the form of plasma. Earth’s magnetosphere too, contains this and the plasma processes have the capability to disrupt the working of the number of satellites that are in the orbit in the magnetospheric region.
• Apart from the satellites, the understanding of this region is also essential to understand the cosmos in its entirety.
• Hence, the study will help to plan the future space missions. The study will also lead to control fusion experiments to fulfill ever-expanding energy demands of humanity.

About Magnetosphere

• It is the region around a planet dominated by the planet’s magnetic field.
• Other planets in our solar system have magnetospheres, but Earth has the strongest one of all the rocky planets.
• The magnetosphere shields our home planet from solar and cosmic particle radiation, as well as erosion of the atmosphere by the solar wind – the constant flow of charged particles streaming off the sun.

How it is generated?

• Earth’s magnetosphere is part of a dynamic, interconnected system that responds to solar, planetary, and interstellar conditions.
• It is generated by the convective motion of charged, molten iron, far below the surface in Earth’s outer core.
• Constant bombardment by the solar wind compresses the sun-facing side of our magnetic field. The sun-facing side, or dayside, extends a distance of about six to 10 times the radius of the Earth.
• The side of the magnetosphere facing away from the sun – the nightside – stretches out into an immense magnetotail, which fluctuates in length and can measure hundreds of Earth radii, far past the moon’s orbit at 60 Earth radii.

Why study magnetosphere?

• To better understand its role in our space environment. It will unravel the fundamental physics of space, which is dominated by complex electromagnetic interactions unlike what we experience day-to-day on Earth. By studying this space environment close to home, we can better understand the nature of space throughout the universe.
• Additionally, space weather within the magnetosphere – where many of our spacecraft reside – can sometimes have adverse effects on space technology as well as communications systems. Better understanding of the science of the magnetosphere helps improve our space weather models.

About Indian Institute of Geomagnetism

• It is an autonomous institution functioning directly under the Department of Science and Technology.
• It has its main Campus at Panvel, Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra).
• It conducts basic and applied research in Geomagnetism (study of dynamics of earth’s magnetic field) and allied fields like Solid Earth Geomagnetism/Geophysics, Magnetosphere, Space and Atmospheric Sciences.
• The Institute also supports a World Data Centre for Geomagnetism (WDC, Mumbai), which is the only International centre for Geomagnetic data in South Asia and caters to the needs of Space and Earth Scientists and researchers from various universities and research institutions.