Articles tagged with Earth Atmosphere
Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are developing the world's first spaceborne sodium lidar to illuminate the complex relationship between Earth's chemistry and mesosphere dynamics. The instrument will provide higher-resolution data on the small-scale dynamics occurring in the upper atmosphere.
Research models suggest varying geoengineering efforts can combat climate impacts in at-risk areas, reversing long-term changes in Arctic sea ice. A study published in Nature Climate Change found that tailoring geoengineering efforts by region and over time could potentially improve effectiveness and reduce risks.
NASA successfully tested a hypersonic inflatable heat shield, surviving re-entry at 7,600 mph. The Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE-3) demonstrated the technology's potential for planetary entry and descent or cargo return from the International Space Station.
A recent M-class flare from Sunspot 1515 caused a moderate radio blackout, affecting high- and low-frequency radio communication and GPS signals. The flare was classified as an M6.1, approximately half the size of weakest X-class flares.
Researchers analyzed rock cores from the FAR DEEP project in Northwest Russia, finding that oxygen levels gradually increased over hundreds of millions of years. The appearance of free oxygen in the atmosphere likely occurred as a series of starts and stops, rather than a single event.
Solar activity impacts UARS satellite re-entry due to changes in thermosphere density caused by sunspots and solar flares. The satellite's predicted re-entry time is uncertain due to the dynamic environment, with ongoing solar events potentially affecting its trajectory.
Scientists discovered a mysterious high-altitude sulphur dioxide layer on Venus that can help explain its formation. The new findings also suggest that injecting large quantities of sulphur dioxide into Earth's atmosphere to mitigate climate change may not be as effective as thought.
CU-Boulder undergraduates and staff successfully decommissioned the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) after seven years of operation. The team, led by LASP professionals, uploaded commands to burn the remaining fuel and switched off the transmitter, bringing the satellite safely into Earth re-entry.
Three NASA scientific instruments, MINI-ME, PISA, and TTI, have completed environmental testing and passed critical tests, paving the way for their launch on the FASTSAT-HSV01 satellite. The instruments will study Earth's atmosphere and space weather, improving global predictions.
A team of researchers from the University of Manchester and University of Houston used advanced analytical techniques to test volcanic gases, revealing a clear meteorite signature that suggests the atmosphere came from outer space. The study's findings imply that ancient Earth's oceans also originated from extraterrestrial materials.
A new method uses celestial geometry and data on the sun, Earth, and moon's optical properties to create picture-perfect images of lunar eclipses. The tool can be used to study historical atmospheric phenomena and add a special effect to artistic representations.
A team of scientists discovered that the Great Oxygenation Event coincided with the first widespread ice age on Earth. The oxygenation of the atmosphere led to a decrease in greenhouse gases, resulting in a significant drop in surface temperatures.
Astronomers are getting closer to finding an Earth-sized planet in an Earth-like orbit, but detecting its atmosphere will require hundreds of transits and advanced telescopes like JWST. Red dwarf stars offer the best possibility of detecting biomarkers in a transiting Earth's atmosphere.
Researchers have found a 'whiff' of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere 50-100 million years before the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), suggesting a gradual buildup of oxygen. This discovery provides new insights into the origins of oxygen on Earth and challenges the long-held timeline of the GOE.
The emergence of oxygen-producing cyanobacteria released oxygen at levels similar to today, but it had nowhere to go. Terrestrial volcanoes later arose and dominated, increasing oxygen levels in the atmosphere.
The study's findings suggest that the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere may not have been as absolute as previously thought, with fluctuations occurring over time. The researchers analyzed ancient sediments and found that sulfur isotope ratios did not exhibit abnormal patterns consistent with an oxygen-free atmosphere.
A study by Duke physicists suggests that climate models of global warming need to be corrected for the effects of changes in solar activity. The researchers found that the sun may have minimally contributed about 10 to 30 percent of the 1980-2002 global surface warming.
Research suggests that increased oxygen levels in Earth's atmosphere led to the emergence of large placental mammals, including massive sloths and saber-toothed cats. The study, published in Science journal, uses deep-sea core samples to track changes in oxygen content over 205 million years.
Researchers used chondrites to calculate early Earth's atmosphere, finding a reducing atmosphere with methane and ammonia. This contradicts the Miller-Urey experiment, which relied on an oxidizing atmosphere.
Scientists at Ohio State University have created a faster method to study the Earth's atmosphere by utilizing laboratory-based spectroscopy techniques. This new approach enables researchers to quickly identify and remove interference signals from molecules in gas systems, leading to more accurate measurements of atmospheric composition.
Aura will provide unprecedented information on the composition of the atmosphere and its impact on climate change and air quality. The satellite will help scientists understand how atmospheric composition affects and responds to changing climate conditions.
Climate experts Tom Wigley and Charles Knight will discuss the future of the Earth's atmosphere and the impact of greenhouse gases on climate change. They will also explore the science behind artificial snow formation, including nucleation and ice nuclei.