Gas molecules are torn apart by solar ultraviolet light, causing a loss of electrons, forming electrically charged ions. The ions interact with the wind of charged particles flowing out from the sun and form an ion tail, which again can extend millions of kilometers in a direction away from the Sun. These ions are fluorescent in sunlight.
[approx est] Water probably makes up about 75% to 80% of a comet. Other common forms of ices in carbon includes carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and formaldehyde.
*The green color given off by a comet represents Ionized Carbons.
shift;
How comets effect the Earth is still a learning curve.
Clearly,,a comet draws quantum particle jump from the Sun in interface relationship.
Comet approaches...Sun starts dumping Electrons and Protons.
The numbers of cometary passages in a system does effect the planets.
In our case..the electrons/protons get obsorbed and transient into our atmosphere on many levels...causing what?
does this influence our weather......yes.
The Sun burping plasma's off into space does effect the Earths inner magneto drive system..which influences the high pressure weather cells which dominate weather patterns.
The Earth transits thru charged particles from the comets train..and tranists thru Sun Plasma discharges.
It will be intersting to see how the weather is in 2004/2005 from these comet passages.
then too..we have had many comets appear since 91...and ..our weather is starting to change profoundly...so noted in the Arctic..where the ice thickness has declined dramatically since 1990.
very soon..the Arctic will be open water year round..a windfall for shipping.
The high pressure cells appear stronger in ident..packing more speed in winds..and duration time in position.
This year..temperatures figures per historical record recorded have been surpassed..and occured in a window 3-4 weeks earlier as seasons go.
Too early to assay *fully what these comets passages have done to our weather in totallity..as our earths multifacited syetms are still in flux from the interface.
Do things ease off..with weather modifying back to former levels as the particles are obsorbed?
or..has the cycle of comets passing and Sun burping Plasma set a very detrimental scenario into motion...ie..our Earth headed to regional then global drought sequences?
Time will tell