Published: 8th Mar, 2021
Satellite observations have revealed an unprecedented ‘space hurricane’ in Earth’s upper atmosphere, for the first time.
Satellite observations have revealed an unprecedented ‘space hurricane’ in Earth’s upper atmosphere, for the first time.
Context
Satellite observations have revealed an unprecedented ‘space hurricane’ in Earth’s upper atmosphere, for the first time.
Background
- Scientists have previously documented hurricanes in the lower atmospheres of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
- Similar phenomena (enormous solar tornadoes) have even been spotted on the Sun.
- But the existence of space hurricanes, hurricane-like circulation patterns in planets’ upper atmospheres, has been uncertain.
- The space hurricane was detected on August 20, 2014.
- Researchers at Shandong University in China used satellite data to identify a space hurricane over Earth’s northern magnetic pole.
- The phenomenon was noticed during a retrospective analysis led by the researchers at the Shandong University in China.
- The findings were published in the peer-reviewed British journal Nature Communications.
Analysis
The discovery
- A 'space hurricane' is a swirling mass of plasma. The space hurricane has been spotted in Earth’s ionosphere.
- The whole thing lasted nearly eight hours, depositing vast amounts of energy and momentum into the ionosphere.
- The event was a whirling pattern not in the air, but in plasma, ionized gas that is found throughout the Solar System, including in Earth’s upper atmosphere.
- The hurricane was spinning in a counterclockwise direction (like hurricanes do in the Northern Hemisphere), had multiple spiral arms, and lasted almost eight hours before gradually breaking down.
- Like its more mundane counterparts, the space hurricane had a quiet center, multiple spiral arms, and widespread circulation.
- It also featured precipitation, but of energetic electrons rather than water droplets.
- The authors found that a 3D model could reproduce the event’s main features and explained its formation.
- Space hurricanes might be universal phenomena at planetary bodies with magnetic fields and plasma across the Universe.
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Hurricanes
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How is it different and similar to earth hurricanes?
- Differences
- Electrons instead of water: Unlike other hurricanes, however, the space hurricane rained electrons into the ionosphere. This had a stunning effect: a huge, cyclone-shaped aurora below the hurricane.
- Similarity
- The space hurricane — which took place during a period of low geomagnetic activity — had many similar features with that of hurricanes of the Earth that form in Earth's lower atmosphere.
- However, in many ways, this space hurricane resembles the hurricanes that occur in the Earth’s lower atmosphere.
- Tropical storms are associated with huge amounts of energy, and these space hurricanes must be created by unusually large and rapid transfer of solar wind energy and charged particles into the Earth’s upper atmosphere.
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Earth’s atmosphere
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Can they create problems?
- These space hurricanes can, probably, lead to weather effects too, such as
- increased satellite problems
- disturbances in high-frequency radio communications, satellite navigation, communication systems
- increased errors in the over-the-horizon radar location
What hints do the findings give?
- Widespread phenomenon: Plasma and magnetic fields in the atmosphere of planets exist throughout the universe, so the findings suggest space hurricanes should be a widespread phenomenon.
- Relatively common: They could be more relatively common within our solar system and beyond.
Conclusion
The study of space hurricanes will help in understanding important space weather effects such as satellite drag, disturbances in high frequency (HF) radio communications, and errors in over-the-horizon radar location, satellite navigation, and communication systems better. However, further study is needed to know the complete picture of such an occurrence.
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