[ad_1]
Researchers recently discovered that a few years ago they had “slept” during a hurricane. By analyzing data from meteorological satellites from 2014, scientists found evidence of a hurricane from outer space that pushed plasma into Earth’s upper atmosphere. Although these events are invisible to the naked eye, evidence shows that they are not uncommon. Knowing them better could help protect satellites and communications systems from disturbance and preserve radar and GPS outputs for life below the planet’s surface.
A vortex of plasma
Satellites orbiting the planet collect immense amounts of data on environmental and climate activity. A recent publication in Nature Communications explains how the first hurricane from outer space was discovered through analysis of data collected in August 2014.
The research team examined recently released files containing measurements taken by four satellites in the Defense Weather Satellite Program. From their analysis, the scientists created a 3D image that showed the hurricane from space forming characteristics similar to those we know in Earth’s lower atmosphere. A Science Daily press release describes it as a gigantic spiral of plasma, with its arms swirling counterclockwise over the North Pole.
The space hurricane, with a calm eye at its center, saw plasma swirling at 4,700 miles per hour (or 2,100 meters per second). Researchers tracked its progress over eight hours of activity as the storm dumped a constant stream of electron rain through the ionosphere into Earth’s upper atmosphere.
What is a space hurricane?
On Earth, hurricanes are created by differences in atmospheric pressure. Physics World describes how warm, humid air rises above the oceans to create areas of low pressure. This in turn sucks air from areas with high pressure, creating strong winds and causing clouds to dump massive amounts of rain. The energy released during a storm is enormous, and there is usually a lot of damage.
With hurricanes coming from space, there is also a lot of energy involved, but the storm itself is not caused by pressure gradients. In the vacuum of space, the researchers thought the solar wind and geomagnetic turbulence were likely the answer. However, when checking the satellite data, scientists found it to be relatively silent.
Thinking this unusual, the research team looked for another solution, using modeling to run various scenarios. What they found was a surprise. Instead of an explosion from the sun pushing plasma winds over Earth’s magnetosphere, the model showed that magnetic field lines were responsible for the hurricane. Incoming solar winds interacted with the magnetic field over the North Pole to whip the flow of plasma into the vortex detected by the satellites.
As astronomy explains, the alignment between the magnetic field of the Sun and the flow of electrons facilitated from the Earth. While similar to the convection currents generated during the formation of hurricanes, the energy that started the process came from the Sun above rather than the heat from the oceans below.
The Smithsonian Magazine notes that space hurricanes are probably much more frequent than expected, as such conditions exist around many other planets.
Space weather and life on Earth
Plasma is the fourth state of matter. University College London describes it as a gas so overheated that atoms separate to release electrons. Usually, plasma is invisible unless particles of ionizing radiation fall into the atmosphere to form an aurora borealis. The team of researchers have found evidence that an aurora has formed over the storm.
The magnetosphere creates a protective layer that protects the Earth from the solar wind plasma. Turbulence develops at the interface because it deflects the flow of electrons. However, ionization does more than create a stunning light show. Space weather like this can also impact radio communications and satellite transmissions, for example, causing satellites to lag and decreasing radar accuracy beyond the horizon. As Science Alert notes, this weather could even knock out the satellites we rely on for many daily activities.
While you can’t see a hurricane from space, you may have experienced it on the surface in the form of communication issues, radio failures, and GPS confusion. The more we know about space weather, the better scientists will be able to protect our communications systems in the future, as well as spot space weather on other planets.
Interested in all things space and exploration? We are too. Take a look at the vacancies at Northrop Grumman and consider joining our team.
[ad_2]
Source link