Geophysical Phenomena and Processes

The physical description in itself can be based on the kind of coupling being involved (i.e., thermal, gravitational, electromagnetic, or by matter exchange). Gravitational coupling is related to celestial mechanics and tidal deformation. Thermal coupling is ultimately concerned with energy balance. Matter exchange is concerned with the interaction between contiguous systems, and particularly important when considering boundary phenomena, typical of the environment of the biosphere, that occur between atmosphere, ocean, and solid earth. Electromagnetic coupling is concerned with both shortand long-range interactions, from solar wind through to the deep earth, and including huge electric circuits through the sun–solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere; their coupling with deep telluric currents and earth’s dynamo; and friction phenomena and the global atmospheric electric circuit, which should explain: