Scientists use sounding rockets to show that small oscillations in electric fields can be just as important for atmospheric Joule heating as the presence of the electric field itself.
ionospheres
Posted inResearch Spotlights
How Saturn Alters the Ionosphere of Titan
New research shows that Saturn's powerful magnetic field changes the atmospheric chemistry of its largest moon, Titan.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
An Ionospheric Index to Predict Earthquakes Falls Short
Scientists disagree about the validity of the spatial scintillation index, a tool that aims to forecast earthquakes based on atmospheric disturbances.
Posted inEditors' Vox
First Results from the MAVEN Mission to Mars
Geophysical Research Letters publishes First Results from the MAVEN Mission to Mars, demonstrating a remarkable achievement of NASA's MAVEN team and the broader scientific community.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Gaseous Planets May Have Huge Luminous Rings Caused by Lightning
What business do elves have in the upper atmospheres of gas giants? Plenty, it seems. The enormous ring-shaped phenomena triggered by lightning may occur on Jupiter, Saturn, and exoplanets.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
What’s Driving Titan’s Atmosphere?
A new analysis of Cassini data reveals a major source of heavy hydrocarbons on Saturn’s moon Titan.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Upper Atmosphere Has Cooled Steadily for Three Decades
Scientists projected that the upper atmosphere would continue to cool and contract with rising greenhouse gas emissions. Now, these projections have been confirmed for the first time.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Model of Earth's Plasmasphere Is Incompatible with Measurements
Researchers find that a model of the Earth’s plasmasphere developed in the 1960s is outdated and inaccurate.