2024-02-03 08:04:59
The interaction of charged particles with molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere can produce various luminous phenomena, the most famous of which are aurora, but that’s not the only beauty of the atmosphere. A more subtle phenomenon called airglow is best viewed from space, and the International Space Station recently captured a beautiful photo of the Earth covered in a golden glow.
Airglow is a very weak emitted light from the planet’s atmosphere. It is produced when sunlight (ultraviolet radiation) interacts with atoms and molecules in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Most of it comes from a narrow area of 50 to 300 kilometers, allowing scientists to observe the thin air at high altitudes. Overview of the movement and distribution of the atmosphere.
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The yellow glow is caused by atmospheric sodium particles, and the red glow is caused by the reaction of oxygen, nitrogen and hydroxyl ions at an altitude of hundreds of kilometers. However, due to sunlight scattering, this phenomenon will not be noticed during the day.
Therefore, the best place to watch airglow is in space. On January 21, 2024, the International Space Station took a photo from an altitude of 415 kilometers above the ground while flying over the Pacific Ocean northeast of Papua New Guinea, showing that there is a cloud of light hanging above the earth’s horizon. There are layers of bright golden glow, and auburn bands of light that contrast sharply with the starry background.
In fact, airglow is more common during solar maximum periods. As early as 1935, scientists realized that airglow will peak around solar maximum periods. This is because solar activity heats the Earth’s upper atmosphere and causes more collisions. Although Airglow does not necessarily require solar activity, but it is strongly related to the solar cycle. Current research points out that when the sun approaches the maximum period of activity, the brightness of airglow can increase by up to 40%.
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(Source of first picture:NASA）
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