substorm en · NOUN
Etymology
From sub- + storm.
Meanings
-
A phenomenon in which a magnetotail becomes swollen and unstable.
At times, however, energy builds up within the magnetic field until it suddenly breaks loose into what is called a substorm, releasing a burst of electrical current that turns the auroras into pulsing red, purple and white colors.
2007 January 23, Warren E. Leary, “Five New Satellites With a Mission of Finding a Source of Color in Space”, in New York Times:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| substorms | Number=Plur | lexicographic |