Scientists discuss geospace and what we could learn if we put some more eyes on this region in the atmosphere. Read more in our special themed issue.
Thermosphere: composition and chemistry
Stratospheric Weather Impacts Light Species at Great Heights
Sudden stratospheric warmings in the high latitude wintertime can drive changes in light species (H, He and O) all the way though the thermosphere, likely influencing ion densities in the exosphere.
Is There a Greenhouse Effect in the Ionosphere, Too? Likely Not
Controversial observations of long-term changes in the ionosphere appear to be explained by the Sun’s 11-year cycle of activity, not human greenhouse gas emissions.
Auroras May Explain an Anomaly in Earth’s Ionosphere
A new study finds that the ionospheric anomaly over the Weddell Sea is likely influenced by proximity to auroral energy input, rather than by tilting magnetic fields.
What Drives Variation in the Ionosphere’s Electron Density?
The long-term trend in the electron density of the ionospheric F layer may be natural, not man-made.
What Causes Nitric Oxide to Infiltrate the Ozone Layer?
Processes in the polar atmosphere can cause nitric oxide (NO)-enriched air to descend and destroy stratospheric ozone. Scientists explore one cause of these NO fluxes, stratospheric sudden warming.