Aeronomy: Difference between revisions
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{{short description| |
{{short description|Science of the upper region of the Earth's or other planetary atmospheres}} |
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'''Aeronomy''' is |
'''Aeronomy''' is the scientific study of the [[upper atmosphere]] of the [[Earth]] and other planets. It is a branch of both [[atmospheric chemistry]] and [[atmospheric physics]]. Scientists specializing in aeronomy, known as '''aeronomers''', study the motions and chemical composition and properties of upper atmospheres, as well as the interaction between upper atmospheres and the [[Outer space|space]] environment.<ref>{{cite book|first=Guy|last= Brasseur|pages=xi|title=''Aeronomy of the Middle Atmosphere : Chemistry and Physics of the Stratosphere and Mesosphere''|publisher=Springer |year=1984|isbn=978-94-009-6403-7}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The mathematician [[Sydney Chapman (mathematician)|Sydney Chapman]] introduced the term ''aeronomy'' to describe the study of the Earth's upper atmosphere<ref>{{cite book| first=Andrew F.|last= Nagy|pages=1–2 |title=''Comparative Aeronomy''|author2=Balogh, André|author3= Thomas E. Cravens|author4=Mendillo, Michael|author5=Mueller-Woodarg, Ingo|publisher=Springer |year=2008|isbn=978-0-387-87824-9}}</ref> in 1946 in a [[letter to the editor]] of ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' entitled "Some Thoughts on Nomenclature."<ref>Sydney Chapman, "Some Thoughts on Nomenclature," ''Nature'' '''157''', (1946): 405. Available on-line at: [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v157/n3987/abs/157405b0.html ''Nature''].</ref> The term |
The mathematician [[Sydney Chapman (mathematician)|Sydney Chapman]] introduced the term ''aeronomy'' to describe the study of the Earth's upper atmosphere<ref>{{cite book| first=Andrew F.|last= Nagy|pages=1–2 |title=''Comparative Aeronomy''|author2=Balogh, André|author3= Thomas E. Cravens|author4=Mendillo, Michael|author5=Mueller-Woodarg, Ingo|publisher=Springer |year=2008|isbn=978-0-387-87824-9}}</ref> in 1946 in a [[letter to the editor]] of ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' entitled "Some Thoughts on Nomenclature."<ref>Sydney Chapman, "Some Thoughts on Nomenclature," ''Nature'' '''157''', (1946): 405. Available on-line at: [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v157/n3987/abs/157405b0.html ''Nature''].</ref> The term later also began to refer to the study of the corresponding regions of the atmospheres of other planets. |
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==Branches== |
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Aeronomy can be divided into three main branches: '''terrestrial aeronomy''', '''planetary aeronomy''', and '''comparative aeronomy'''.<ref name=mendillo2002introduction>[https://www.bu.edu/csp/uv/cp-aeronomy/monograph02.html Mendillo, Michael, Andrew Nagy, and J .H. Waite, "Introduction," ''Atmospheres in the Solar System: Comparative Aeronomy'', Geophysical Monograph Series Volume 130, 2002, unpaginated Accessed 23 March 2021]</ref> |
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To study Earth's upper atmosphere, researchers use [[Balloon (aeronautics)|balloons]], [[satellite]]s, and [[sounding rockets]], all of which provide valuable data.<!--Need information on how they study upper atmospheres of other planets.--> |
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===Terrestrial aeronomy=== |
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==Areas of study== |
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''Terrestrial aeronomy'' focuses on the Earth's upper atmosphere, defined as the [[mesosphere]], [[thermosphere]], and [[exosphere]] and their ionized component, the [[ionosphere]].<ref name=mendillo2002>[https://www.bu.edu/csp/uv/cp-aeronomy/monograph02.html Mendillo, Michael, Andrew Nagy, and J .H. Waite, "Preface," ''Atmospheres in the Solar System: Comparative Aeronomy'', Geophysical Monograph Series Volume 130, 2002, unpaginated Accessed 23 March 2021]</ref> Terrestrial aeronomy contrasts with [[meteorology]], which is the scientific study of the Earth's lower atmosphere, defined as the the [[troposphere]] and [[stratosphere]].<ref name=mendillo2002introduction/><ref name=imperialcollege>[https://www.imperial.ac.uk/space-and-atmospheric-physics/research/areas/planetary-aeronomy/ "Planetary Aeronomy," Imperial College London Accessed 23 March 2021]</ref> Although terrestrial aeronomy and meteorology once were completely separate fields of scientific study, cooperation between terrestrial aeronomers and meteorologists has grown as discoveries made since the early 1990s have demonstrated that the upper and lower atmospheres have an impact on one another's [[physics]], [[chemistry]], and [[biology]].<ref name=mendillo2002introduction/> |
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| ⚫ | Terrestrial aeronomers study [[atmospheric tide]]s and [[upper-atmospheric lightning]] discharges such as red [[Sprite (lightning)|sprites]], sprite halos, [[blue jets]], and ELVES.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}} They also investigate the causes of [[Dissociation (chemistry)|dissociation]] and [[ionization]] processes in the Earth's upper atmosphere.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chapman|first=Sydney|title=The Thermosphere - the Earth's Outermost Atmosphere|series= Physics of the Upper Atmosphere |year=1960|publisher=[[Academic Press]]|isbn=978-0-12-582050-9|pages=4}}</ref> Terrestrial aeronomers use ground-based [[telescope]]s, [[Balloon (aeronautics)|balloons]], [[satellite]]s, and [[sounding rockets]] to gather data from the upper atmosphere. |
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{{Main|Atmospheric tide}} |
{{Main|Atmospheric tide}} |
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Atmospheric tides are global-scale periodic oscillations of the Earth′s atmosphere, analogous in many ways to ocean [[tides]]. Atmospheric tides dominate the dynamics of the |
Atmospheric tides are global-scale periodic oscillations of the Earth′s atmosphere, analogous in many ways to ocean [[tides]]. Atmospheric tides dominate the dynamics of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, serving as an important mechanism for transporting energy from the upper atmosphere into the lower atmosphere. Terrestrial aeronomers study atmospheric tides because an understanding of them is essential to an understanding of the atmosphere as a whole and of benefit in improving the understanding of meteorology. Modeling and observations of atmospheric tides allow researchers to monitor and predict changes in the Earth's atmosphere.<ref name=VollandAT>Volland, H., "Atmospheric Tidal and Planetary Waves", Kluwer Publ., Dordrecht, 1988</ref> |
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===Upper-atmospheric lightning=== |
====Upper-atmospheric lightning==== |
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[[File:Upperatmoslight1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Representation of upper-atmospheric lightning and electrical-discharge phenomena]] |
[[File:Upperatmoslight1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Representation of upper-atmospheric lightning and electrical-discharge phenomena]] |
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{{Main|Upper-atmospheric lightning|Sprites (lightning)}} |
{{Main|Upper-atmospheric lightning|Sprites (lightning)}} |
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"Upper-atmospheric lightning" or "upper-atmospheric discharge" are terms |
"Upper-atmospheric lightning" or "upper-atmospheric discharge" are terms aeronomers sometimes use to refer to a family of electrical-breakdown phenomena in the Earth's upper atmosphere that occur well above the altitudes of the [[Troposphere|tropospheric]] [[lightning]] observed in the lower atmosphere. Currently, the preferred term for an electrical-discharge phenomenon induced in the upper atmosphere by tropospheric lightning is "[[transient luminous event]]" (TLE) . There are various types of TLEs including red sprites, sprite halos, blue jets, and ELVES (an acronym for “[[Emission spectrum|Emission of Light]] and [[Very Low Frequency|Very-Low-Frequency]] perturbations due to [[Electromagnetic pulse|Electromagnetic Pulse]] Sources”) .<ref>Earle R. Williams (November 2001) "Sprites, elves, and glow discharge tubes," ''Physics Today'', '''54''' (11) : 41-47. Available on-line at: [http://physicstoday.org/journals/doc/PHTOAD-ft/vol_54/iss_11/41_1.shtml?bypassSSO=1 ''Physics Today''] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.is/20120527085255/http://physicstoday.org/journals/doc/PHTOAD-ft/vol_54/iss_11/41_1.shtml?bypassSSO=1 |date=2012-05-27 }}.</ref> |
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===Planetary aeronomy=== |
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''Planetary aeronomy'' studies the upper atmospheres of other planets,<ref name=mendillo2002introduction/> defined as those regions corresponding to the Earth's mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere, and ionosphere.<ref name=imperialcollege/> Planetary aeronomers use ground-based telescopes, [[space telescope]]s, and [[space probe]]s which [[Planetary flyby|fly by]], [[orbit]], or land on other planets to gain knowledge of the upper atmospheres of those planets through the use of instruments such as [[optical spectrometer]]s, [[magnetometer]]s, and [[Faraday cup|plasma detectors]] and techniques such as [[radio occultation]].<ref>[https://www.cosmos.esa.int/documents/1700208/1718748/03+Nagy_+ESLAB52Hist.Planet.Aeronomy_corr.pdf/a2d786d6-08dd-3802-54d9-cb4889acaa67 Nagy, Andrew F., "History of Planetary Aeronomy," cosmos.esa.int Accessed 23 March 2021]</ref> Although planetary aeronomy originally was confined to the study of the upper atmospheres of the other planets in the [[solar system]], the discovery since 1995 of [[extrasolar planet]]s has allowed planetary aeronomers to expand their field to include the atmospheres of those planets as well.<ref>[https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783540214724 Abstract of Bauer, Siegfried J, and Helmut Lammer, ''Planetary Aeronomy: Atmosphere Environments in Planetary Systems'', Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 2004, {{ISBN|978-3-662-09362-7}} Accessed 23 March 2021]</ref> |
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===Comparative aeronomy=== |
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''Comparative aeronomy'' uses the findings of terrestrial and planetary aeronomy — traditionally separate scientific fields<ref name=mendillo2002/> — to compare the characteristics and behaviors of the upper atmospheres of other planets with one another and with the upper atmosphere of Earth.<ref name=mendillo2002/> It seeks to identify and describe the ways in which differing chemistry, [[magnetic field]]s, and [[thermodynamics]] on various planets affect the creation, evolution, diversity, and disappearance of atmospheres.<ref name=mendillo2002/> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Atmospheric physics]] |
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*[[Meteorology]] |
*[[Meteorology]] |
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*[[Ionosphere]] |
*[[Ionosphere]] |
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*[[Space physics]] |
*[[Space physics]] |
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*{{Commonscatinline}} |
*{{Commonscatinline}} |
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[[Category:Atmospheric chemistry]] |
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[[Category:Atmospheric physics]] |
[[Category:Atmospheric physics]] |
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[[Category:Electrical phenomena]] |
[[Category:Electrical phenomena]] |
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Revision as of 00:56, 24 March 2021
Aeronomy is the scientific study of the upper atmosphere of the Earth and other planets. It is a branch of both atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric physics. Scientists specializing in aeronomy, known as aeronomers, study the motions and chemical composition and properties of upper atmospheres, as well as the interaction between upper atmospheres and the space environment.[1]
History
The mathematician Sydney Chapman introduced the term aeronomy to describe the study of the Earth's upper atmosphere[2] in 1946 in a letter to the editor of Nature entitled "Some Thoughts on Nomenclature."[3] The term later also began to refer to the study of the corresponding regions of the atmospheres of other planets.
Branches
Aeronomy can be divided into three main branches: terrestrial aeronomy, planetary aeronomy, and comparative aeronomy.[4]
Terrestrial aeronomy
Terrestrial aeronomy focuses on the Earth's upper atmosphere, defined as the mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere and their ionized component, the ionosphere.[5] Terrestrial aeronomy contrasts with meteorology, which is the scientific study of the Earth's lower atmosphere, defined as the the troposphere and stratosphere.[4][6] Although terrestrial aeronomy and meteorology once were completely separate fields of scientific study, cooperation between terrestrial aeronomers and meteorologists has grown as discoveries made since the early 1990s have demonstrated that the upper and lower atmospheres have an impact on one another's physics, chemistry, and biology.[4]
Terrestrial aeronomers study atmospheric tides and upper-atmospheric lightning discharges such as red sprites, sprite halos, blue jets, and ELVES.[citation needed] They also investigate the causes of dissociation and ionization processes in the Earth's upper atmosphere.[7] Terrestrial aeronomers use ground-based telescopes, balloons, satellites, and sounding rockets to gather data from the upper atmosphere.
Atmospheric tides
Atmospheric tides are global-scale periodic oscillations of the Earth′s atmosphere, analogous in many ways to ocean tides. Atmospheric tides dominate the dynamics of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, serving as an important mechanism for transporting energy from the upper atmosphere into the lower atmosphere. Terrestrial aeronomers study atmospheric tides because an understanding of them is essential to an understanding of the atmosphere as a whole and of benefit in improving the understanding of meteorology. Modeling and observations of atmospheric tides allow researchers to monitor and predict changes in the Earth's atmosphere.[8]
Upper-atmospheric lightning
"Upper-atmospheric lightning" or "upper-atmospheric discharge" are terms aeronomers sometimes use to refer to a family of electrical-breakdown phenomena in the Earth's upper atmosphere that occur well above the altitudes of the tropospheric lightning observed in the lower atmosphere. Currently, the preferred term for an electrical-discharge phenomenon induced in the upper atmosphere by tropospheric lightning is "transient luminous event" (TLE) . There are various types of TLEs including red sprites, sprite halos, blue jets, and ELVES (an acronym for “Emission of Light and Very-Low-Frequency perturbations due to Electromagnetic Pulse Sources”) .[9]
Planetary aeronomy
Planetary aeronomy studies the upper atmospheres of other planets,[4] defined as those regions corresponding to the Earth's mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere, and ionosphere.[6] Planetary aeronomers use ground-based telescopes, space telescopes, and space probes which fly by, orbit, or land on other planets to gain knowledge of the upper atmospheres of those planets through the use of instruments such as optical spectrometers, magnetometers, and plasma detectors and techniques such as radio occultation.[10] Although planetary aeronomy originally was confined to the study of the upper atmospheres of the other planets in the solar system, the discovery since 1995 of extrasolar planets has allowed planetary aeronomers to expand their field to include the atmospheres of those planets as well.[11]
Comparative aeronomy
Comparative aeronomy uses the findings of terrestrial and planetary aeronomy — traditionally separate scientific fields[5] — to compare the characteristics and behaviors of the upper atmospheres of other planets with one another and with the upper atmosphere of Earth.[5] It seeks to identify and describe the ways in which differing chemistry, magnetic fields, and thermodynamics on various planets affect the creation, evolution, diversity, and disappearance of atmospheres.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Brasseur, Guy (1984). Aeronomy of the Middle Atmosphere : Chemistry and Physics of the Stratosphere and Mesosphere. Springer. pp. xi. ISBN 978-94-009-6403-7.
- ^ Nagy, Andrew F.; Balogh, André; Thomas E. Cravens; Mendillo, Michael; Mueller-Woodarg, Ingo (2008). Comparative Aeronomy. Springer. pp. 1–2. ISBN 978-0-387-87824-9.
- ^ Sydney Chapman, "Some Thoughts on Nomenclature," Nature 157, (1946): 405. Available on-line at: Nature.
- ^ a b c d Mendillo, Michael, Andrew Nagy, and J .H. Waite, "Introduction," Atmospheres in the Solar System: Comparative Aeronomy, Geophysical Monograph Series Volume 130, 2002, unpaginated Accessed 23 March 2021
- ^ a b c d Mendillo, Michael, Andrew Nagy, and J .H. Waite, "Preface," Atmospheres in the Solar System: Comparative Aeronomy, Geophysical Monograph Series Volume 130, 2002, unpaginated Accessed 23 March 2021
- ^ a b "Planetary Aeronomy," Imperial College London Accessed 23 March 2021
- ^ Chapman, Sydney (1960). The Thermosphere - the Earth's Outermost Atmosphere. Physics of the Upper Atmosphere. Academic Press. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-12-582050-9.
- ^ Volland, H., "Atmospheric Tidal and Planetary Waves", Kluwer Publ., Dordrecht, 1988
- ^ Earle R. Williams (November 2001) "Sprites, elves, and glow discharge tubes," Physics Today, 54 (11) : 41-47. Available on-line at: Physics Today Archived 2012-05-27 at archive.today.
- ^ Nagy, Andrew F., "History of Planetary Aeronomy," cosmos.esa.int Accessed 23 March 2021
- ^ Abstract of Bauer, Siegfried J, and Helmut Lammer, Planetary Aeronomy: Atmosphere Environments in Planetary Systems, Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 2004, ISBN 978-3-662-09362-7 Accessed 23 March 2021
External links
Media related to Aeronomy at Wikimedia Commons
