magnetopause

noun

mag·​ne·​to·​pause mag-ˈnē-tə-ˌpȯz How to pronounce magnetopause (audio)
-ˈne-
: the outer boundary of a magnetosphere

Examples of magnetopause in a Sentence

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At that location, there is magnetic tension at the interface between the planet’s magnetopause and the solar wind. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 4 Aug. 2023 The difference in velocity between the magnetopause and solar wind creates a furiously swirling wave—a vortex. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 4 Aug. 2023 BepiColombo also measured the planet’s relatively small magnetosphere – including the magnetopause and the bow shock, areas where the magnetic field meets the solar wind. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2023 With the magnetopause so close to Earth, the planet would not have been totally shielded from the solar wind and may have lost much of its water early on, the researchers say [Scientific American] . Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2010 On June 24, Juno crossed Jupiter's bow shock, and the next day, Juno crossed the magnetopause. Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 1 July 2016 The bow shock is like Jupiter's sonic boom, while the magnetopause is the physical boundary between the Sun's magnetic field and Jupiter's magnetic field. Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 1 July 2016 Listen to the sounds of Juno entering Jupiter's space: In the video, Juno crosses two thresholds: the bow shock and the magnetopause. Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 1 July 2016

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of magnetopause was in 1962

Dictionary Entries Near magnetopause

Cite this Entry

“Magnetopause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnetopause. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.

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