Scientists discover surprise in Earth's upper atmosphere

University of California - Los Angeles ^ | Sep 9, 2009 | Unknown

[SunkenCiv]

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.

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[aruanan]

So is there a crapload of energy up there we can use and how can we tap into it?

[Monkey Face]

Can’t we all just GET ALONG???

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[Monkey Face]

Folks can speculate until the cows come home, but the final answer is: we have no clue!!!

[SunkenCiv]

:')

[Monkey Face]

That is SO .... silly!!

[Old Professer]

Estimated at .00014C during max phases.

No more than a few dozen displaced immigrants.

[SunkenCiv]

I tissue’d never seen that one, eh?

[Fractal Trader]

ping

[ForGod'sSake]

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...

[MHGinTN]

Wahl Thornhill’s Electrric Universe maybe?

[Kevmo]

bmflr

[Steve Van Doorn]

good example... so how is this new? We have been reading about this for years.

[Pistolshot]

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.

[Monkey Face]

It’s jusnot right!

[Steve Van Doorn]

strange I always thought solar winds was more understood.

thank you

[Pistolshot]

One thing about physics and the other sciences,there is always something new.

[SunkenCiv]

I know I’ll be membrane that image for a long time to come.