Foreword_2001_Earth-Magnetism

Prévia do material em texto

Foreword 
This book is written by a world-renowned scientist. It provides a wealth of 
scientific information about a relevant topic, magnetic fields, in a way that is 
state-of-the-science, yet fun to read. 
Dr. Campbell has authored several well-known books. His recent book, 
Introduction to Geomagnetic Fields, is one of the most important references 
in our field. He has also authored numerous articles published in scientific 
journals in which his peers subject papers to critical review. In addition, na- 
tional and international agencies and corporations routinely seek his advice. 
Thus, Dr. Campbell is a respected leader in geophysics and space physics, not 
just geomagnetism. 
Dr. Campbell carries an unbridled enthusiasm for geomagnetism, which 
he is willing and able to share with scientists and nonscientists alike. He 
presents the state of the science in a wonderful and meaningful way. The rel- 
evant principles and physics of magnetism are discussed in a complete, yet 
easy-to-understand way. The Earth's main field and its origin and changes are 
simply and clearly presented. Dr. Campbell discusses the effects of particles 
and fields of solar, interplanetary, and near-Earth space origin on measure- 
ments of the Earth's magnetic field. He presents these external currents as the 
result of both normal and unusual solar emissions, including large solar flares 
and coronal mass ejections spewing copious fluxes of charged particles with 
their associated magnetic and electric fields. These events frequently cause 
significant changes in the near-Earth space environment that have been named 
magnetic storms and substorms. He presents this information with respect to 
its impact on technology in space and on the ground, including telecommu- 
nications, satellite operations, satellite drag, and radio propagation, and he 
~ 1 7 6 
XIII 
xiv Foreword 
relates these effects to events that occur in our daily lives. He also tackles the 
controversial false science as it relates to geomagnetic fields. 
Dr. Campbell has accepted the difficult task of talking to all of us about 
a complex and difficult-to-understand part of our environment, the magnetic 
field of the Earth, and he does so with superb clarity, simplicity, and practi- 
cality. 
Dr. Herbert W. Kroehl 
General Secretary, International Association for 
Geomagnetism and Aeronomy