NASA solves 60-year atmosphic mystery, measuring Earth's ambipolar electric field

NASA's Endurance mission measures Earth's ambipolar electric field, explaining the polar wind and opening new exploration avenues.

: NASA's Endurance mission has measured Earth's ambipolar electric field for the first time. The measurement explains the polar wind phenomenon and provides insight into atmospheric escape. The field influences hydrogen ions, making them escape at supersonic speeds. This discovery helps understand other planets' atmospheres.

NASA's Endurance mission has successfully measured Earth's ambipolar electric field, solving a 60-year atmospheric mystery. This discovery is crucial for understanding atmospheric escape and has broad implications for our knowledge of the ionosphere and space weather.

The ambipolar electric field, measured at 0.55 volts over a 322-mile altitude range, explains the polar wind phenomenon. Hydrogen ions, influenced by this weak field, achieve supersonic speeds when escaping Earth's atmosphere, defying previous expectations about atmospheric behavior due to cold air particles.

The influence of this electric field extends beyond individual particles, increasing the ionosphere's 'scale height' by 271 percent. This groundbreaking discovery not only enhances our understanding of Earth but also opens new avenues for exploring atmospheres of other planets like Venus and Mars.

NASAPolar windIonosphere