SUN-EARTH INTERACTION:
THE ROLE OF THE GEOMAGNETIC FIELD AND THE IONOSPHERE
The Earth has a magnetic field that originates deep within the fluid core. This field permeates our planet and the space around it, forming the magnetosphere, our space shield against the solar wind, which maintains the atmosphere and protects life. Surrounding the Earth, immersed in the magnetic field, is the ionosphere, the highest layer of the atmosphere, electrically charged and capable of modifying the propagation of radio waves. The conditions of both the magnetic field and the ionosphere change over time and space, affecting technological systems and the safety of human beings. To monitor these conditions, INGV operates through geomagnetic and ionospheric observatories, producing maps that photograph the situation at a precise moment and in specific areas.