Question

What role does a global magnetic field play in the evolution of a planet's atmosphere and in planetary habitability?

Answer 1

The giant planets of the solar system contains dynamic current inetrnally which induces their magnetic field, on a planetary level. These magentic fields are responsible for evolution of atmosphere and planet's habitability as it protects the atmosphere of planet from escaping out to outer space, and also helps in mantaining desriable surface conditions essential to sustain life there. Magnetc field protect planet from stellar radiation as well as stellar wind by deflecting the solar charged particles away from the surrounding atmosphere. There are generally two components of magnetic field that contributes to global magnetic field of a planet. One is the field which is generated from the core due to the pressure of dynamo current inside the matter, and it is responsible for deflecting and drifting away of the stellar wind particles, and the other is generated due to cooling of planet's interior matter, and it protects planet from harmful radiation out in space from entering the atmosphere.