Scientists solve the mystery of mesospheric ghosts in the atmosphere

A first-of-its-kind study in atmospheric science sheds new light on a confusing phenomenon known as atmospheric science. “mesospheric ghosts” or “demons”. These bursts of light, similar to lightning but located far above typical storm clouds, have been a source of attraction for scientists and sky enthusiasts alike.

The investigation team, led by María Passas-Varo, State-of-the-art spectroscopy techniques are used to study these lights.The discovery of a composition that contradicts previous theories and enriches our understanding of atmospheric science.

A diverse spectral family

Sprites are a piece A wide range of transient light events occurring in the stratosphere and mesosphereIncluding halos, elves, blue launchers, giant jets and goblins. Their lifespans vary significantly; elves appear in a fraction of a millisecond, ghosts last a few milliseconds, and giant jets last almost a second.

Catching mesospheric ghosts is an extraordinary challenge because they are rare. These ghosts appear at altitudes of 50 to 85 kilometers, in an atmosphere much thinner than sea level. To reveal its chemical secrets, it is crucial to make precise spectrographic measurements at full height.

science of souls

Observing a storm in the Mediterranean, researchers began finding a mixture of elements in the sprite’s spectrum, including not only the predicted excited atomic oxygen, but also iron, nickel, and nitrogen.

These elements, meteorite debris and interstellar dust entering our atmosphere, give the upper atmosphere a vibrant green color. The discovery changes our understanding of the chemical dynamics of the upper atmosphere, pointing to the complex interaction between terrestrial and cosmic materials.

This means we need to review current atmospheric models. normally do not contain metallic elements in the phenomena. Understanding the chemistry of the upper atmosphere is crucial for applications such as satellite communications and weather forecasting.

Although the investigation sheds light on these unusual events, it also opens up new possibilities for investigation. The exact mechanisms by which metallic atoms become part of mesospheric events and their overall effects on the chemistry and physics of the atmosphere are still subjects of future research.

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