Phys.org August 28, 2024 Observations of heated O+ ions in the magnetosphere are consistent with resonant wave–particle interactions. By contrast, observations of cold supersonic H+ flowing out of the polar wind suggest the presence of an electrostatic field. An international team of researchers (USA – NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Catholic University of America, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of New Hampshire, University of Colorado at Boulder, UC Berkeley, Penn State University, NASA Wallops Flight Facility, UK, Norway, Sweden, Svalbard and Jan Mayen) described the existence of an electric potential drop between 250 km and 768 km from a planetary electrostatic field generated […]
Tag Archives: Ionosphere
Satellite mission finds that Tonga volcanic eruption effects reached space
Phys.org May 10, 2022 Analyzing data from NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission and ESA’s Swarm satellites, an international team of researchers (USA – UC Berkeley, University of Colorado, Germany) found that in the hours after the eruption, hurricane-speed winds and unusual electric currents formed in the ionosphere. Upon reaching the ionosphere and the edge of space, ICON clocked the windspeeds at up to 450 mph. After the eruption, the equatorial electrojet surged to five times its normal peak power and dramatically flipped direction, flowing westward for a short period. According to the researchers this is something we’ve only previously […]