To a greater extent than was formerly thought to be the case the monsoons appear to be in the nature of various kinds and degrees of modification of the general planetary wind system.

The resulting stream of charged particles, called the polar wind (not to be confused with the planetary wind), accounts for 10 to 15 percent of Earth's hydrogen loss and almost its entire helium leak.

Louis Friedman, executive director of the Planetary Society, says that the sails must be launched to test them, because there is no solar wind in Earth's atmosphere.