All articles tagged with #upper atmosphere
Multiple photographers captured rare red sprites, high-altitude electrical discharges, above thunderstorms in the Mediterranean region. These transient luminous events occur 40-90 km above Earth, lasting milliseconds, and were first confirmed on video in 1989.
A Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre team tracked 17 long-lived pieces of 1960s space debris for 36 years and found that once solar activity passes roughly two-thirds of a cycle's peak (as measured by sunspot number or the 10.7 cm radio flux), the upper atmosphere drags debris downward more rapidly, accelerating decay across three solar cycles. The finding helps forecast debris reentries and plan safer operations, though the sample is small and polar/high-inclination debris show deviations.
Scientists are using ground-based LiDAR to detect ablation from reentering space debris in the upper atmosphere. A lithium cloud linked to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 upper-stage reentry was observed, and Leibniz Institute researchers are testing a three-channel multi-species LiDAR to detect metals and propellant residues (e.g., copper, aluminum oxide, hydrogen fluoride). The findings suggest debris reentry is altering the mesosphere and upper stratosphere, with potential implications for the ozone layer as satellite megaconstellations grow; experts call for expanded monitoring and dedicated efforts to track space waste reentry.
Researchers using sensitive lasers detected a rapid lithium plume in the mesosphere–lower thermosphere and traced it to the February 2025 re-entry of a discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage, marking the first ground-based observation that re-entering space debris leaves a detectable chemical fingerprint. With orbital activity rising and megaconstellations planned, the study underscores the need for monitoring networks and regulatory action to understand and manage potential impacts on the upper atmosphere and ozone.
The James Webb Space Telescope spent 17 hours peering at Uranus to map its upper atmosphere in three dimensions, revealing two bright auroral bands near the planet’s unusual magnetic poles and a depletion of ions between them. The observations show how Uranus’s tilted, offset magnetosphere shapes energy flow and auroral activity, with the upper atmosphere still cooling since the 1986 Voyager flyby, providing new insights into the dynamics of ice-giant atmospheres.
A new study warns that rising CO2 levels are cooling Earth's upper atmosphere, which could lead to sharper increases in atmospheric density during geomagnetic storms, potentially causing more satellite drag, shorter satellite lifespans, and disruptions to communication and navigation systems.
Researchers have successfully tested tiny sunlight-powered devices using photophoresis in near-vacuum conditions similar to Earth's upper atmosphere, opening new possibilities for exploring the ignorosphere and improving climate models, with potential applications in atmospheric research, space exploration, and satellite technology.
The total solar eclipse on April 8 subtly shifted the upper atmosphere, altering the frequency of radio waves and affecting the "time signals" transmitted by the WWV radio station. The eclipse caused a Doppler shift in the radio waves, but the digital time codes remained unaltered, ensuring that timekeeping devices were unaffected. Similar frequency shifts were observed in other radio signals during the eclipse, and researchers noted that such shifts also occur naturally due to daily changes in the ionosphere caused by sunlight.
NASA is launching three sounding rockets during the solar eclipse on April 8 to study how the sudden drop in sunlight affects the upper atmosphere. The rockets will reach an altitude of 260 miles to study disturbances in the ionosphere. The public can watch the launches in person at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center in Virginia or online via NASA's live stream. This eclipse is the last in North America until 2044, and viewers are reminded to use certified solar eclipse glasses for safe viewing.
NASA plans to launch three research rockets on April 8 to study the impact of a rare total solar eclipse on Earth's upper atmosphere. The rockets, part of the APEP mission, will analyze how the eclipse affects the ionosphere and atmospheric waves, which can disrupt communications. The data collected will be crucial for understanding and predicting disturbances in the ionosphere, with the potential to impact satellite communications. The rockets will reach a maximum altitude of 260 miles and will be equipped with instruments to study the eclipse. NASA will broadcast the eclipse and rocket launches, providing a live viewing for the public.
NASA will launch three sounding rockets from Virginia's Wallops Flight Facility to study disturbances in the ionosphere during the upcoming solar eclipse, aiming to understand how the sudden disappearance of the Sun's light affects Earth's upper atmosphere and communication systems. The rockets will release instruments to measure perturbations in the ionosphere, providing data to improve models predicting potential disturbances to communication systems. This mission follows a previous launch during the 2023 eclipse, which revealed a reduction in charged particle density.
Government scientists at NOAA and NASA have proposed a new concept to counteract global warming by manipulating the upper atmosphere to make it drier, which would reduce water vapor, a natural greenhouse gas. The idea involves injecting ice particles high up in the air to dehydrate the stratosphere, potentially reducing a small amount of the human-caused warmth. However, this approach is still in the early stages of exploration and is not a substitute for reducing carbon pollution. Critics raise concerns about potential side effects and emphasize the importance of addressing the root cause of climate change.
Scientists have captured new imagery of atmospheric phenomena known as "ghosts" that occur during some lightning storms. These green-hued wisps, which are difficult to see with the naked eye, were found to be composed of excited oxygen, nitrogen, and iron delivered from space. The discovery of the elemental makeup of these ghosts provides insights into the chemistry and physics of Earth's upper atmosphere. These transient luminous events, including ghosts, are still not well understood, but further research will continue to unravel their mysteries.
SpaceX rocket launches are creating bright glowing "holes" in the sky, causing aurora-like phenomena in the upper atmosphere. These glows, caused by interactions between rocket exhaust and the ionosphere, are becoming more frequent as rocket launches increase. The impact of these glows on astronomical observations is still being evaluated. Additionally, the night sky is already affected by light pollution, and rockets and satellites are leaving metals in Earth's stratosphere, further polluting it. SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation is expanding internet access but hindering astronomical observations, although efforts are being made to reduce its impact.
The European Space Agency's Trace Gas Orbiter satellite has detected a mysterious glow emanating from the night side of Mars in the planet's upper atmosphere. Researchers believe the glow is caused by the recombination of oxygen atoms carried by winds to the high winter latitudes, which then react with CO2 molecules and emit light in the visible range. The discovery could provide valuable information about the dynamics of Mars' upper atmosphere and guide future missions to the planet. Additionally, a glow in the ultraviolet range, likely caused by the nitric oxide molecule, has also been observed and will be further studied.