magnetic storm
2
6.6
- noun
- /mæɡˈnɛtɪk stɔrm/
- Specialized
:
tormenta magnética
- The magnetic storm was kicking up strong interference on his sensors.
- an intense magnetic storm
- a solar magnetic storm
You could if you imagine a science fiction plot in in which, say, some sort of magnetic storm from the sun or something wipes out, wipes out the Internet.
- You could if you imagine a science fiction plot in in which, say, some sort of magnetic storm from the sun or something wipes out, wipes out the Internet.
Examples
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"How's that magnetic storm doing?"
Fiction book (1991) -
Static caused by magnetic storms may knock out radio, but it won't affect a telephone cable.
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"They can have any number of troubles in these magnetic storms."
Fiction book (1991) -
That meant sight searching, the one thing they could do during the magnetic storm, since sensors were no good at this time.
Fiction book (1991) -
There's a bad magnetic storm, sir.
-
One such very large burst caused the magnetic storm that blacked out the power in Quebec in 1989.
Blog text (7) -
The most important value in the table above is the Largest Kp Index, which indicates the intensity of a magnetic storm for a 3-hour period.
Academic text (2010) -
Also, most of the businesses in the area were warehouses for off-world trade, and since few pilots would risk flying in magnetic storms, the area would probably be deserted.
Fiction book (1991) -
Every year, Halmarin was plagued with violent windstorms and huge, thick dust clouds, and according to Doochin, this year they were due to hit at the same time as the magnetic storm.
Fiction book (1991) -
Just a few years ago in 2003, we had what we call a century storm: the biggest magnetic storm in a hundred years.
Synonyms
A short disturbance in Earth's magnetic field that makes auroras brighter
How Severe
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a sudden disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field' is directly and compositionally derivable from 'magnetic' (relating to the magnetic field) + 'storm' (a sudden violent disturbance). This adjective+noun combination follows a common semantic pattern and has close equivalents in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should understand it.
Etymology
The term magnetic storm comes from a simple image: bursts from the sun hit Earth's magnetic field and make it wild like a weather storm, so magnetic points to magnetism and storm shows the sudden, violent activity. So, magnetic storm means a sudden change in Earth's magnetism that can 'disrupt' power systems and satellites.