NASA made a discovery above Earth that clearly caused distrust among scientists!
It is a discovery made by NASA and more precisely the International Space Station (ISS). Thanks to a new device, she detected something unexpected. On the other hand, the latter has led to distrust among experts.
A NASA discovery
Thanks to a new tool installed aboard the ISS, the Atmospheric Waves Experiment, scientists have detected atmospheric waves all the way into the mesosphere. If this advance opens up new perspectives, it also raises major questions among experts.
The Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) is designed to study atmospheric waves generated by extreme weather events. This sophisticated device, installed on the ISS, has the mission of scanning the mesosphere.
It is a layer of the atmosphere located between 50 and 90 kilometers above the Earth. In September 2023, as Hurricane Helene hit the United States, the AWE recorded unprecedented atmospheric waves in this region.
The images revealed by the device revealed air waves generated by the storm's extreme winds and precipitation. According to NASA, this data proves that “the instrument has the sensitivity necessary to reveal the impacts of hurricanes on the earth's upper atmosphere ».
This discovery establishes a direct link between weather events on Earth and the upper layers of the atmosphere, often considered isolated. “This information helps us better understand how Earth weather can affect space weather”specifies NASA in its press release.
Experts warn
The mesosphere is one of the least explored layers of the Earth's atmosphere. However, it suffers the consequences of human activities. In 2021, a study had already shown that greenhouse gases were causing a gradual shrinkage of this region.
With temperatures around -100°C, this area remains very sensitive to disturbances. The atmospheric waves observed in the mesosphere, generated by Hurricane Helene, have modified the air density in this layer.
This alteration may seem innocuous. But it is not without consequences according to NASA experts. Indeed, satellites in low orbit, for example, depend on air density to maintain their trajectories.
“Even small variations in the mesosphere can disrupt space equipment used for telecommunications or navigation”alerted some experts. Indeed, these satellites, essential for services such as GPS or telephone networks, could be affected by these phenomena.
While this scientific advance is welcomed, it also raises questions among certain specialists. The ability of AWE to provide accurate atmospheric wave data is a reality. But several NASA experts urge caution.
Further research to come
The latter believe that this discovery highlights the fragility of space infrastructures. And this, in the face of increasingly frequent and intense Earth phenomena. With global warming, hurricanes are increasing in intensity.
Their impacts could be felt as far as satellites. Additionally, some are skeptical about how quickly the information collected can be integrated into reliable predictive models.
NASA's objective is to better anticipate disturbances to adjust satellites. But this work could take years. Despite these reservations, NASA remains optimistic about the use of this device.
By exploiting AWE data, researchers hope to refine the predictive models used. And this, for anticipate atmospheric disturbances. This information could make it possible to implement adjustment strategies. Particularly for satellites and other sensitive equipment.
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