Scientists say they have confirmed the existence of hurricanes in space after analyzing a 1000 km wide swirling mass of plasma spotted hundreds of kilometers above the North Pole.
The space hurricane, observed by satellites in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, rained electrons instead of water. It rotated counterclockwise and lasted almost eight hours before breaking.
These events are expected to lead to significant effects in space weather and disruption of GPS systems, scientists have found.
The observed hurricane, which occurred during a period of low geomagnetic activity in 2014, may be one of the many occurring in our solar system and beyond.
More discoveries in our solar system:
A team of scientists, led by Shandong University in China, analyzed observations by satellites in August 2014 and created a 3D image of the hurricane in the Earth’s ionosphere.
The findings, published in 2008 Nature communication, confirmed the existence of space hurricanes that had not been detected before. They also outlined the main features of the event and explained its formation.
Professor Mike Lockwood, a space scientist at the University of Reading, said hurricanes could be a universal phenomenon on planets and moons with magnetic fields and plasma.
“Until now, it was uncertain that space plasma hurricanes even existed,” Lockwood said. ‘To prove it with such a striking observation is incredible.
‘Tropical storms are associated with large amounts of energy, and these space hurricanes must be created by extraordinarily large and rapid transfer of solar energy and charged particles to the earth’s upper atmosphere.
“Plasma and magnetic fields in the atmosphere of planets exist throughout the universe, so the findings suggest that hurricanes in space must be a widespread phenomenon.”
The spatial hurricane has been found to share many features with hurricanes in the lower atmosphere of the earth, including a quiet center, multiple spiral arms, and widespread circulation.
The scientists said that the hurricanes open a fast energy transfer channel from space to the ionosphere and the thermosphere, and that there are expected to be important consequences for the weather in space, such as increased satellite resistance, interference in high frequency radio communication and increased errors in the horizon. radar location, satellite navigation and communication systems.
The team said the process could also be important for the interaction between interstellar winds and other solar systems throughout the universe.
Questions and Answers for Readers: Can Aircraft Be Used to Stop Hurricanes?
Asked by: Anonymous
Hurricanes could cause hundreds of deaths and billions of pounds of damage. But scientists at the University of Akron in Ohio have patented a possible way to deal with it. Their plan involves the jets in the eye of the storm to disrupt the delicate airflow and pressure caused by the fierce winds.
The Supersonic Hurricane Neutralizer plan is still on the drawing board, but in theory it would work like this: two F-4 jets, flying at a speed of Mach 1.5, fly into the eye of the hurricane – the quiet part in the middle of the storm. The sonic spray beam produced by the jets would increase the air pressure in the eye, which would disrupt the upward flow of hot air which would give the storm its power and bring the storm to an end.
Trials are planned that are expected to show that only one jet fighter is needed to disrupt a storm. Now they only need to find a few pilots who are willing to make the flight.
Read more: