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Scientists discover surprise in Earth's upper atmosphere
University of California - Los Angeles ^
| Sep 9, 2009
| Unknown
Posted on 09/10/2009 7:20:20 AM PDT by decimon
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To: Swordmaker; 75thOVI; aimhigh; Alice in Wonderland; AndrewC; aragorn; aristotleman; ...
a previously unknown basic mode of energy transfer from the solar wind to the Earth's magnetosphere. The research, federally funded by the National Science Foundation, could improve the safety and reliability of spacecraft that operate in the upper atmosphere. "It's like something else is heating the atmosphere besides the sun. This discovery is like finding it got hotter when the sun went down," said Larry Lyons, UCLA professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences and a co-author of the research... The sun, in addition to emitting radiation, emits a stream of ionized particles called the solar wind that affects the Earth and other planets in the solar system.
Watch out, it's another opportunity for AGW / greenhouse effect / global warming demagoguery. Thanks decimon.
21
posted on
09/10/2009 3:14:44 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
To: decimon
So is there a crapload of energy up there we can use and how can we tap into it?
22
posted on
09/10/2009 3:16:31 PM PDT
by
aruanan
To: SunkenCiv
Can’t we all just GET ALONG???
23
posted on
09/10/2009 3:17:13 PM PDT
by
Monkey Face
(I wear a yellow ribbon for ForgotenKnight, my army hero grandson.)
To: Monkey Face
24
posted on
09/10/2009 3:43:30 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
To: SunkenCiv
Folks can speculate until the cows come home, but the final answer is: we have no clue!!!
25
posted on
09/10/2009 3:47:34 PM PDT
by
Monkey Face
(I wear a yellow ribbon for ForgotenKnight, my army hero grandson.)
To: Monkey Face
:')
26
posted on
09/10/2009 4:28:43 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
To: SunkenCiv
27
posted on
09/10/2009 4:30:51 PM PDT
by
Monkey Face
(I wear a yellow ribbon for ForgotenKnight, my army hero grandson.)
To: decimon
Estimated at .00014C during max phases.
No more than a few dozen displaced immigrants.
28
posted on
09/10/2009 4:51:24 PM PDT
by
Old Professer
(The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, then writes again.)
To: Monkey Face
I tissue’d never seen that one, eh?
29
posted on
09/10/2009 5:56:44 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
To: xcamel
To: decimon
We have some ideas of what that may be, which we will test. I for one would be interested in hearing his theories, but alas...
31
posted on
09/10/2009 10:31:31 PM PDT
by
ForGod'sSake
(You have two choices and two choices only: SUBMIT or RESIST with everything you've got!)
To: decimon
Wahl Thornhill’s Electrric Universe maybe?
32
posted on
09/10/2009 10:35:49 PM PDT
by
MHGinTN
(Dems, believing they cannot be deceived, it is impossible to convince them when they are deceived.)
To: decimon
33
posted on
09/10/2009 11:41:58 PM PDT
by
Kevmo
(So America gets what America deserves - the destruction of its Constitution. ~Leo Donofrio, 6/1/09)
To: Pistolshot
good example... so how is this new? We have been reading about this for years.
34
posted on
09/11/2009 12:01:13 AM PDT
by
Steve Van Doorn
(*in my best Eric cartman voice* 'I love you guys')
To: Steve Van Doorn
The mechanism for the transfer of heat has been little understood. How that occurs has always been defined by the sun's influence on the planet. The Solar Wind has always been a by-product, and only thought of as the cause/effect on the magnetosphere.
But if it is the primary component of thermal transfer of energy as well as the affect on the magnetosphere, that would go a long way in explaining some of the temperature fluctuations of the Earth over time.
Right now, the sun is at it's lowest period of sunspot activity ever witnessed, and the temperature of the Earth is rising slightly, as it has in the past. Now, the magnetosphere is 'relaxed' as well as the Solar Wind, the slow moving stream example.
We now have a baseline to observe the effects as the Solar flares and sunspot activity increase.
If the magnetosphere starts to fluctuate again, and that should be readily observable, then the temperature and energy transfer should also decrease. The fast moving example.
The physics will involved will also help us understand the workings of our Solar System and those we are just now beginning to observe.
New discoveries await.
35
posted on
09/11/2009 3:47:12 AM PDT
by
Pistolshot
(Brevity: Saying a lot, while saying very little.)
To: SunkenCiv
36
posted on
09/11/2009 6:10:28 AM PDT
by
Monkey Face
(I wear a yellow ribbon for ForgotenKnight, my army hero grandson.)
To: Pistolshot
strange I always thought solar winds was more understood.
thank you
37
posted on
09/11/2009 9:47:10 AM PDT
by
Steve Van Doorn
(*in my best Eric cartman voice* 'I love you guys')
To: Steve Van Doorn
One thing about physics and the other sciences,there is always something new.
38
posted on
09/11/2009 10:16:26 AM PDT
by
Pistolshot
(Brevity: Saying a lot, while saying very little.)
To: Monkey Face
I know I’ll be membrane that image for a long time to come.
39
posted on
09/11/2009 5:05:04 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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