Transcript: Even though the solar wind is diffuse and invisible to the eye it has substantial consequences for the Earth. The particles streaming out from the Sun are ions, positively charged energetic particles with their electrons removed. When they hit the Earth they first hit the magnetosphere, the magnetic field of the Earth where the charged particles can spiral in magnetic field lines. Essentially the bow wave of the Earth is the bow wave of the magnetosphere hitting the charged particles that come from the Sun. Many particles are deflected by this interaction. Others are accelerated to high energies. Some penetrate the magnetosphere sufficiently to accumulate in two donut-type regions above the Earth’s surface. These are the Van Allen radiation belts. Others stream down onto the polar regions of the Earth and create auroral displays. In general the interactions of highly charged particles with magnetic fields leads to strong radio interference, so telecommunications on the Earth are severely disrupted at times of sunspot maximum or when the solar wind is particularly strong.