The universe could be full of electrons tomorrow, thanks to a new discovery on Earth’s magnetic field.
It is described as an impossible, ultra-fast “melting point”, which is seen when waves of electromagnetic energy rise. Earth‘s magnetosphere – the magnetic field created by the rotation of the Earth’s head, which surrounds our Earth and shields it from sunlight. These electrons will flow from the magnetosphere and fly to Earth.
More electron torrential rain during inclement weather, which can help the aurora borealisaccording to research published March 25 in the journal Nature Communications (opens on new page). However, the researchers added, electron rain could threaten astronauts and aircraft in ways that are not known to the atmosphere.
Pili: Earth’s box is like, no news
“While the general idea is that the sky is separate from our upper atmosphere, the two are very similar,” said Vassilis Angelopoulos, consultant historian, a professor of medicine at the University of California. Los Angeles (UCLA) spoken in a language (opens on new page). “Understanding how to connect with them can benefit satellites and astronauts traveling around the country.”
Scientists have known for many years that the earth’s strongest particles melt in very small moments. These sections begin with day and travels 93 million square miles (150 million kilometers) to Earth behind the solar wind. Our planet’s magnetosphere holds most of these pieces in one of two donut -melting belts called Van Allen belts. Sometimes, the waves created in these belts cause electrons to accelerate and fall into Earth’s atmosphere.
The new study shows that electron precipitation can be increased more often than previously thought.
In their latest research, the authors analyzed electron precipitation in Van Allen’s belts using data from two satellites: the Electron Losses and Fields Investigation (ELFIN) spacecraft, a satellite measuring the amount of bread crumbs that orbit low in Earth’s atmosphere; and the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) spacecraft, orbiting Earth outside the Van Allen belts.
By looking at the electron flows in the Van Allen belts from top to bottom, the team was able to see electron events in great detail. THEMIS data show that these lightning storms are triggered by whistler waves – a low -energy type. radio waves (opens on new page) which begins when lightning strikes and then rises in the earth’s magnetosphere.
These strong waves can force electrons in the Van Allen belts, which melt and fall down in the low atmosphere, the researchers found. In addition, ELFIN satellite data showed that these rains can be obtained more often than previously thought, and can become common during inclement weather.
Current models show some causes of electron rain in the Earth’s atmosphere (such as the effect of the solar wind, for example) – however, they do not account for electron whistler rain. -wave-induced, according to the researcher. It can damage satellites and endanger astronauts captured in their path. By re -understanding the origin of electron rain, scientists can redesign their models to better prevent humans and machines from spending their precious time on our planet, he said. and new research authors.
Originally published on Live Science.
