For the first time in history, scientists have recorded how the Earth's atmosphere responds synchronously to powerful outbreaks in the sun. This discovery opens a new page in studying the interaction between our light and the planet.
According to Space.com , citing research in JGR Space Physics , a team of scientists from royal university in Belfasta recorded pulsations in the Earth's atmosphere that coincided with the rhythm with the fluctuations of the sun during a powerful sunlight in March 2012.
According to the Goes-15 satellite and the NASA Observatory, the flash created energy pulses at 90 seconds. The earth's ionosphere, in turn, responded to these impulses after 30 seconds, which showed the presence of some inertia in the atmosphere. Scientists have recorded these changes due to the analysis of GPS signals, which were deviated due to changes in the concentration of electrons in the upper atmosphere.
This discovery indicates that the Earth's atmosphere not only passively responds to the sunny storms, but actively "responds" to the rhythm of the sun. This approach can be the basis for new forecast systems that will help to precisely predict the impact of solar activity on communication technology, satellites and other systems sensitive to changes in the ionosphere.
Scientists believe that further study of such pulsations will help to understand more deeply the mechanisms through which space weather affects the Earth and to develop effective means of protection against potential technological failures.
