All articles tagged with #atmospheric physics
A recurring 1,800 km-long water ice cloud on Mars, known as the Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud (AMEC), forms daily via 'homogeneous nucleation,' a process previously only theoretical. Published in Nature Geoscience on Oct. 7, the study shows this exotic physics explains the cloud's rapid formation and evaporation, challenging standard models of cloud formation in planetary atmospheres.
A new microphysical model explains that Venus's long-unexplained lower haze is formed by meteorite dust interacting with sulfuric acid, not volcanic ash. This process also clarifies how iron compounds absorb ultraviolet light in the planet's atmosphere.
Raindrops function as dipole antennas when exposed to electromagnetic radiation, a principle critical for weather radar operation. This interaction, governed by the Rayleigh regime, allows radar systems to detect moisture and precipitation by measuring backscatter signals. The effectiveness of this detection depends on the volume and permittivity of the water droplets.
Scientists led by Victor Pasko have uncovered the precise atmospheric chain reaction that triggers lightning, revealing how electric fields in thunderclouds accelerate electrons, produce X-rays, and initiate lightning through a cascade of high-energy photons and electrons, explaining phenomena like terrestrial gamma-ray flashes and their often dim optical and radio signatures.
A new study suggests that lightning on Earth is initiated by a chain reaction triggered by cosmic rays from outer space, which produce electron avalanches in storm clouds, explaining the high energy needed for lightning and associated gamma-ray and X-ray emissions.
Scientists have developed a new mathematical model that explains how lightning forms in thunderclouds, revealing that powerful electric fields accelerate electrons which produce X-rays and trigger lightning, potentially leading to new X-ray sources and better understanding of atmospheric phenomena.
Researchers have uncovered the atmospheric chain reaction that triggers lightning, showing how strong electric fields in thunderclouds accelerate electrons, produce X-rays, and initiate electron avalanches leading to lightning strikes, while also explaining the occurrence of gamma-ray flashes without visible lightning.
A rare and spectacular display of over 100 red sprites was captured above the Himalayas, revealing complex upper-atmospheric electrical discharges triggered by high-current lightning strikes in a massive storm system, providing insights into atmospheric chemistry and climate interactions.
Scientists in Japan captured the first ground-based observation of a terrestrial gamma-ray flash (TGF) occurring just before a lightning strike, revealing that these powerful radiation bursts originate from the electric fields in storm clouds and may act as natural particle accelerators, deepening our understanding of lightning and high-energy atmospheric phenomena.
Researchers in Japan captured a rare event where lightning produced gamma-ray bursts, revealing that high-energy electromagnetic phenomena can occur in Earth's atmosphere, with potential implications for understanding storm dynamics and nuclear-like reactions in thunderstorms.
Scientists have observed lightning on Earth producing gamma ray bursts, similar to cosmic events, through multi-sensor analysis, revealing new insights into high-energy atmospheric processes and potential implications for lightning protection and understanding severe storms.
The origin of mysterious green "ghosts" in the sky, a type of transient luminous phenomenon, has been discovered by a team of Spanish scientists. These green lights, which occasionally appear above red sprites, are caused by the presence of metals, particularly iron and nickel, from interstellar dust entering the atmosphere. The scientists used a spectrograph to analyze the light and found that while there is some oxygen involved, the majority of the emissions are from iron. The discovery could explain why these green ghosts are so rare.
New observations of storms on Jupiter suggest that lightning on the gas giant builds in a step-by-step manner, similar to lightning on Earth. The lightning bolts on both planets seem to move forward in a staggered fashion, resembling a hiker climbing a mountain. These findings not only provide insights into Jupiter's weather patterns but also have implications for the search for alien life, as lightning on Earth has been linked to the formation of chemical ingredients necessary for life. The study analyzed data from NASA's Juno spacecraft, which showed that radio waves from Jupiter's lightning occurred at a similar rate to lightning on Earth, suggesting a step-by-step growth process.