All articles tagged with #ionosphere
A Japanese study models the Earth’s crust and ionosphere as a coupled electric system to explore whether solar flares could subtly influence when a fault reaches rupture. The authors stress they are discussing timing, not energy, and acknowledge the idea is preliminary and contested by experts, with further validation planned.
The European Space Agency reports that the James Webb Space Telescope used the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) to study Uranus’ upper atmosphere, focusing on its ionosphere up to about 5,000 km above the clouds and creating a full-rotation 3D map to probe the planet’s magnetic field and auroras. The measurements show the hottest regions at roughly 3,000–4,000 km altitude with ion densities around 1,000 km, offering new insights into Uranus’ enigmatic magnetosphere and ice-giant atmospheres more broadly.
A new study suggests that solar flares may perturb Earth’s ionosphere, altering electrostatic forces in the crust and potentially nudging faults toward earthquakes. The authors model the crust and ionosphere as connected like a leaky battery; critics say the approach is oversimplified and real geology could dampen any effect. Validation is challenging, though the researchers cite a 2024 Japan quake as possible support, emphasizing that correlation does not equal causation.
Using JWST's NIRSpec, an international team mapped Uranus's upper atmosphere in 3D for the first time, detailing how temperature and ion density vary up to 5,000 km above the clouds. The study finds peak temperatures around 3,000–4,000 km and ion-density maxima near 1,000 km, with two bright auroral bands and a magnetic-field driven depletion region. The average upper-atmosphere temperature is about 426 K (roughly 150 C), and the atmosphere continues to cool since the 1990s, offering new insight into the energy balance of ice giants.
Scientists successfully used ripples in Earth's ionosphere, caused by atmospheric disturbances from a tsunami, to detect and track the event in real time, demonstrating a promising new method for early tsunami warning systems that could save lives by providing crucial extra minutes of warning.
Scientists have detected plasma bubbles in Earth's ionosphere over Egypt's Pyramids using a new long-range radar system, marking a significant advancement in space weather monitoring that could improve predictions of disruptions to communication and navigation systems worldwide.
Scientists in China have developed a machine learning method to detect invisible equatorial plasma bubbles in Earth's ionosphere by analyzing changes in airglow, which could help prevent disruptions to GPS and radio signals caused by these cavities.
European Space Agency's Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter used mutual radio occultation to study Mars' ionosphere, revealing new insights into its electron density, temperature, and layer behavior, challenging previous models and improving understanding of atmospheric dynamics crucial for future missions.
A May 2024 solar storm caused significant GPS errors across North America, disrupting farming equipment and costing U.S. farmers over $500 million, with errors lasting up to two days due to disturbances in Earth's ionosphere.
NASA's SEED mission aims to study mysterious high-altitude Sporadic-E layers near the equator using rockets launched from Kwajalein Atoll, to better understand their formation and impact on global communication systems, which could lead to improved prediction and mitigation of space weather disruptions.
NASA's GOLD mission discovered unexpected X-shaped plasma structures in Earth's upper atmosphere during calm conditions, suggesting local atmospheric factors influence ionospheric dynamics, which could impact satellite communications and GPS accuracy.
NASA's GOLD satellite has unexpectedly observed X-shaped plasma structures in Earth's ionosphere during calm conditions, revealing complex atmospheric dynamics that can impact GPS and radio signals, with implications for future space weather forecasting.
Google researchers have proposed using Android smartphones to crowdsource ionosphere data by measuring GPS signal delays, which can estimate the total electron current (TEC) of the ionosphere. This method leverages the widespread availability of dual-frequency receivers in smartphones, potentially surpassing the data collection capabilities of the existing 9,000 fixed-position stations.
Researchers from Google and CU Boulder have utilized millions of Android smartphones to create detailed maps of the ionosphere, the uppermost layer of Earth's atmosphere. By using the GPS sensors in these phones, the team was able to track atmospheric phenomena like plasma bubbles, potentially doubling the accuracy of GPS technology. This innovative approach leverages everyday technology to enhance scientific understanding and improve GPS precision worldwide.
China has unveiled a new radar system for forecasting space weather, claiming significant technological breakthroughs. The system, part of the second phase of China's Meridian Project, consists of high-frequency radars in Jilin, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang, and can detect ionospheric irregularities over a vast area. This technology aims to enhance long-distance radio communication and monitor space weather disturbances that could affect satellites and spacecraft. China plans to integrate this system with the international SuperDARN network, although the timeline for data sharing remains unclear.