The first space hurricane is confirmed over the North Pole that rained electrons into the upper atmosphere

Scientists have confirmed the existence of space hurricanes after observing electrons raining down into Earth’s upper atmosphere.

A team led by Shandong University in China made the announcement after analyzing a 621-mile-wide swirling mass of plasma spotted hundreds of miles above the North Pole.

Observations show a large cyclone-shaped auroral spot with a near zero-current center and a strong circular horizontal plasma flow and scissors, all of which are found in hurricanes in the lower atmosphere – but instead of raining water, it rained electrons.

The space hurricane moved counterclockwise and took about eight hours to disintegrate.

Scientists warn that such storms can disrupt GPS systems, as well as provide more insight into the effects of space weather.

Scientists have confirmed the existence of space hurricanes after observing electrons raining down into Earth’s upper atmosphere

Professor Mike Lockwood, a space scientist at the University of Reading, said the hurricanes could be a universal phenomenon on planets and moons with magnetic fields and plasma.

He said: ‘Until now it was uncertain that even space plasma hurricanes existed, so to prove this with such a striking sighting is unbelievable.

Tropical storms are associated with enormous amounts of energy, and these space hurricanes must be caused by an unusually large and rapid transfer of solar wind energy and charged particles to Earth’s upper atmosphere.

“Plasma and magnetic fields in planets’ atmospheres exist throughout the universe, so the findings suggest that space hurricanes should be a widespread phenomenon.”

Observations show a large cyclone-shaped auroral spot with a near zero flow center and strong circular horizontal plasma flow and scissors, all of which are found in hurricanes in the lower atmosphere.

Pictured is a drawing showing the features of the space hurricane, including the electron precipitation and the middle eye

Previous observations have found space hurricanes on Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter, which are similar to low-atmosphere hurricanes, along with solar gas swirling deep into the sun’s atmosphere.

The latest discovery marks the first time a hurricane has been observed in Earth’s upper atmosphere.

“ A hurricane is clearly associated with strong energy and mass transport, so a hurricane in the Earth’s upper atmosphere must be violent and efficiently transfer the energy and momentum from the solar wind / magnetosphere to the Earth’s ionosphere, ” reads the study. has been published in Nature.

The space hurricane was spotted on August 20, 2014, which was documented by scientists as a relatively stable northern interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) condition.

The space hurricane was spotted on August 20, 2014, which was documented by scientists as a relatively stable northward interplanetary magnetic field condition. After about eight hours, the space hurricane passed as the IMF turned south

IMF is the sun’s magnetic field pulled from the solar corona by solar wind.

The space hurricane, which occurred during a period of low geomagnetic activity, was found to share many features with hurricanes in Earth’s lower atmosphere, including a quiet center, multiple spiral arms, and widespread circulation.

After about eight hours, the space hurricane passed as the IMF turned south.

The team explained that space hurricanes open a fast energy transfer channel from space to the ionosphere and thermosphere, which can help reveal important details of space weather effects, such as increased satellite resistance, high frequency radio communication disruptions and increased errors in over-the-horizon. . radar location, satellite navigation and communication systems.