Satellite measurements reveal aurora linked to carbon dioxide

Satellite measurements reveal aurora linked to carbon dioxide

A new study published in the journal Nature Communications has found that auroras can be linked to carbon dioxide. The study used data from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument, which is onboard the NASA Aqua satellite. AIRS gathers infrared energy emitted from Earth's surface and atmosphere globally.

The study found that during a geomagnetic storm on October 13-14, 2016, there was an increase in carbon dioxide emission at 4.26 microns associated with the aurora. This emission is due to non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE), which occurs when the vibrational excitation of CO2 is caused by auroral energetic particle precipitation.

The study's authors say that this is the first time that a direct link between auroras and carbon dioxide has been shown. They believe that this finding could have implications for our understanding of the atmosphere and how it interacts with space weather.

The study also found that the carbon dioxide emission was strongest in the auroral oval, which is a ring of auroral activity that surrounds the Earth's magnetic poles. This suggests that carbon dioxide emission is related to the interaction between the Earth's atmosphere and the solar wind.

The study's authors say that their findings could help us to better understand the role of carbon dioxide in space weather. They also say that this finding could have implications for our understanding of climate change, as carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas.

Here are some additional details from the article:

• The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

• The study's findings were confirmed by the simultaneous sounding of the atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry measurements and the SuperMAG Electrojet index.

• The study's authors say that they are now working to understand the physical mechanisms that are responsible for the link between auroras and carbon dioxide.