The more closely we look at the Universe, the more mysterious it seems. Recently, during NASA's global observations as part of the «GOLD» Bizarre C- and X-shaped structures were discovered floating in the electrified layer of the ionosphere. «Who would have thought that the Earth's upper atmosphere is like alphabet soup?» — representatives of the space agency wrote on the official website. Amazing letter structures in the electrified gas layer high above us are described in two scientific articles and published in the journal Geophysical Research: Space Physics in November 2023 and April 2024, respectively. We tell you what this phenomenon is and what effect it can have on everyday life.
NASA scientists are observing strange alphabet-shaped structures glowing above the Earth's atmosphere. Image: Buyenlarge/Getty Images
Contents
- 1 NASA Mission «GOLD»
- 2 Glowing letters
- 3 Plasma bubbles
- 4 Lost connection
NASA mission «GOLD»
In 2017, NASA representatives announced the launch of a new space mission «Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk» or more simply put «GOLD». Scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder received a $36 million grant from the space agency and built a special device equipped with a state-of-the-art spectrograph the size of a microwave oven.
This scientific mission should help scientists better understand the nature of space weather, in particular, the causes of the formation and mechanism of action of magnetic storms, as well as study in more detail the chemical composition of the atmosphere at different altitudes. The spacecraft is located at an altitude of about 35,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface.
NASA spacecraft «GOLD». Image: science.nasa.gov
GOLD's main purpose is to measure density and temperature in the Earth's thermosphere and ionosphere. The instrument takes measurements in unprecedented detail using an ultraviolet imaging spectrograph on a geostationary satellite. The results obtained will help answer the basic questions of heliophysics, says the organization’s official website.
Studying the Earth's atmosphere is important for understanding how space weather affects the operation of satellites and ground-based electronic equipment. Various processes also occur in the earth's atmosphere that have a significant impact on climate, weather conditions and life in general.
More about other NASA missions and their discoveries can be read here, don't miss it!
Glowing letters
Ionosphere– the ionized part of the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere, located at altitudes from approximately 50 to 1000 km. It is characterized by a significant content of free electrons and ions, which is why it affects the propagation of radio waves. Recently, researchers discovered something strange in it – glowing structures in the shape of the letters «C» and «X» (yes, you read that correctly).
As NASA's first scientific mission to study the interface between the Earth's upper atmosphere and the surrounding outer space, GOLD has observed letter structures in the ionosphere before, but it was only possible to obtain a clear image of them now.
Measurements made by «GOLD» are used in conjunction with advanced models of the thermosphere and ionosphere. Image: gold.cs.ucf.edu
Do you want to always be aware of the latest news in the field of science and high technology? Subscribe to our channel on Telegram – so you definitely won’t miss anything interesting!
This «alphabet soup» observed in the ionosphere, which grows and contracts depending on the energy it absorbs from the Sun. During the day, sunlight imparts an electrical charge to the layer, bouncing electrons off atoms and molecules, resulting in a mixture of charged particles or plasma that circulates in the ionosphere.
At night, when particles in the ionosphere cannot be powered by energy from the Sun, clusters of low-density plasma called bubblesare formed. This particle paradise intersects with Earth's magnetosphere, where charged particles dance in the magnetic field, creating a bright and colorful glow.
Image: Pixels | Photo by Jay Mantri
Interesting: Why NASA Will Launch 3 Rockets During an Eclipse
In other words, near the Earth's magnetic equator, charged particles rise up and out along the magnetic field lines, forming two dense bands of particles north and south of the equator that scientists call ridges. These ridges and bubbles can distort radio signals and satellite communications.
Plasma Bubbles
The observation of the C-shape has greatly puzzled scientists – such shapes are believed to be created by winds on Earth, in the same way that the direction of the wind affects the tilt of a tree:
That fact “That bubbles of very different shapes are located so close together tells us that atmospheric dynamics are more complex than we expected,” said Jeffrey Klenzing, a scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who studies the ionosphere.
The shadow of the Moon passing over the Earth during a total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21, 2017. Image: science.nasa.gov
Previous studies have shown that merging ridges form an X-shape after solar storms and major volcanic eruptions. Note that previous observational data provided glimpses of ridges and bubbles in the ionosphere, and GOLD tracked these features over long periods of time from its geostationary orbit – an orbit in which a satellite orbits the Earth at the same speed as the Earth itself. .
You may be interested: The atmosphere is losing the ozone layer catastrophically quickly – what is the reason?
Thus, the device previously showed that the X-shape is formed after a powerful solar storm caused by a volcanic eruption, but its detection without any such phenomena is something strange. The authors also note that computer models suggest that lower atmospheric conditions could have pulled the plasma downward.
One of the X-shaped shapes observed by scientists in 2019. Image: www.sciencealert.com
The X-shape is strange because it implies that there are many more localized driving factors. This is expected during extreme events, but observing «alphabet soup» in quiet times suggests that activity in the lower layers of the atmosphere significantly influences the structure of the ionosphere, the authors of the scientific work explain.
Loss of communication
The first report of these C -shaped formations was published by Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) scientist Deepak Karan. Karan and his colleagues reported that these C-shaped bubbles were located about 643 km apart in the ionosphere.
“These two oppositely shaped plasma bubbles in such close proximity had never been thought of or depicted,” Karan said, adding that there was probably some strong turbulence in the atmosphere. such as a whirlwind, wind shear, or tornado.
X-rays caused a radio storm in the ionosphere on the morning and early afternoon of October 28, 2003, according to NOAA's Space Environment Center (SEC). Image: NASA/WireImage
Recall that plasma in the ionosphere is necessary for radio waves to travel long distances, and discoveries in this area are improving our understanding of how radio and GPS work. Disturbances in the ionosphere, like those observed during the GOLD mission, can impact critical communications and navigation infrastructure.
Read also: The atmosphere on Mars disappeared due to solar wind
Here's why the study this «alphabet soup» is of paramount importance. If a vortex or a very strong shift occurs in the plasma, then it completely distorts the plasma in this area. With such a strong disturbance, the signals will be completely lost. We hope that the reason behind this alphabet will be discovered as soon as possible.