http://www.physorg.com/news77293757.html

So this article mentions the impact earth weather is having on the ionosphere. Interesting. What about the reverse, ionospheric activity impacting earth weather? Seriously, wouldn"t changes in charge density or potential in the ionosphere affect the charge dynamics inside storm clouds? If so, then even particle streams from the sun that punch through the magnetosphere could affect earth weather.

Yup, that's the not-ntirely-accepted-but-should-be theory. If earth can affect its atmosphere's charge, the reverse should be true. IE, if inside affects outside, "equal and opposite reactions" should be true, and the outside should be able to affect or play a role on the inside. Unless we're saying that energy can only escape, but not be imparted.

No,
Just because it happens one way doesn't mean that it happens the other. Cell membranes are one example. In this case here, the winds are blowing upwards, spreading the plasma around. The wind can affect the plasma, but the plasma has no effect on the winds. First off, the density of the plasma is several orders of magnitude less then that of the air. Also, air is usually electrically neutral and the only way a rarefied plasma could influence thier movements would be through electromagnetic interactions, which don't take place.

With earth weather being chaotic, sensitive, and nonlinear as it is, I would think that the kinetic and electromagnetic energy absorbed by our atmo/magneto/ionosphere when hit with a coronal mass ejection might have some effect on the weather. I mean, where else does the energy go...

I don`'t see any reference to the work of Svensmark & co. - they were a voice in the wilderness for many years with their theory of how cosmic rays' interaction with the solar wind affected cloud formation in the mid-layers of the atmosphere.

See e.g. http://www.john-daly.com/fraction/fraction.htm . The implication is that global warming is modulated my the solar cycles.

avec, thanks for the link, and i think you're right.

jim D, come on man, how can u say its a one way system. Cell membranes ARE an excellent example, look at photosynthesis (em in) and fireflies (em out).

Moving plasmas create electromagnetic fields around them, and these are HUGE plasmas, so even though they might be diffuse their potential is huge. With em fields setup by the moving plasma they can easily interact with the air below.

Plus, think of it another way. The earth has a general charge level and the sun is a MUCH high charge level, the atmosphere acts as a dielectric, so setting up a capacitive effect. Thus when solar plasma/wind/charge hits the earths ionosphere the differential generated can be so massive and magnetic fields so strong that some part of the dielectric will become leaky and will allow charge to filter down to earth to balance the charge difference. The most dramatic effects we see are lightening and tornadoes and hurricanes.

If you haven't read about plasma cosmology look on wikipedia for a start.