More on astronomy and the climate:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n When these energetic particles, travelling at near the speed of light<\/a>, encounter Earth\u2019s atmosphere they trigger great showers of secondary radiation, some of which penetrates all the way to the surface.<\/p>\n These charged radiation particles knock electrons off any atoms they pass by, causing \u2018ionisation\u2019 which can damage the DNA in our cells and also affect atmospheric processes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The less energetic cosmic rays are significantly deflected by Earth\u2019s magnetic field<\/a>, and so the equator receives more shielding from this particle bombardment than the North and South Poles, where the magnetic field lines dip down towards Certain long-range flight paths \u2013 such as from Dubai to San Francisco \u2013 take airliners right over the North Pole and this, in combination with the high altitude, means that passengers and crew are exposed to elevated levels of ionising radiation.<\/p>\n But variations in the flux of cosmic rays into Earth\u2019s atmosphere have also been hypothesised to influence the terrestrial climate \u2013 perhaps by affecting atmospheric water condensation and the formation of clouds.<\/p>\n And this may be particularly significant during the periods when Earth\u2019s magnetic field reverses, and temporarily weakens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jacob Svensmark, in the department of physics at the University of Oxford<\/a>, has been studying the most recent occasion when Earth\u2019s magnetic field underwent a reversal.<\/p>\n![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2020\/03\/Earth-magnetic-field-ca7d165-e1615201012348.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C443"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
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