Energy field around Earth discovered

A new discovery published in Nature has revealed the existence of a third global energy field surrounding our planet, adding a new layer to our understanding of Earth's atmospheric dynamics. This field, known as the ambipolar electric field, had long been theoretically proposed but has only recently been confirmed through NASA's groundbreaking Endurance mission.

Unlike the more familiar gravitational and electromagnetic fields, the ambipolar electric field operates subtly but with significant consequences. Its influence is most pronounced at high altitudes above the Earth's poles, where it plays a crucial role in propelling charged particles into space at supersonic speeds.

The path to this discovery began decades ago when spacecraft flying over the polar regions detected an unexpectedly high number of particles escaping Earth's atmosphere. This phenomenon, known as the "polar wind," puzzled scientists because it involved cold particles moving at incredibly high speeds. The ambipolar electric field hypothesis emerged as a potential explanation for this unusual behavior.

It is believed that this field originates around 250 kilometers above the poles, where electrons more easily separate from hydrogen and oxygen atoms. This separation creates a delicate balance between positively charged ions and negatively charged electrons. As these particles exert opposing forces on one another, they effectively extend the "scale height" of the atmosphere, resulting in a denser upper atmosphere than previously thought.

Despite its importance, the ambipolar electric field remained undetectable for a long time due to its extremely weak nature. Highly sensitive instruments were required to measure tiny changes over great distances. Enter NASA's Endurance mission, a meticulously planned endeavor designed to test this theory.

On May 11, 2022, the Endurance mission was launched from the world's northernmost rocket base in Svalbard, Norway. During its brief 19-minute flight, the mission's instruments carefully measured changes in electric potential from an altitude of 250 kilometers to a maximum height of 768 kilometers.

The results were conclusive: a 0.55-volt shift was detected, confirming the existence of the ambipolar electric field. Although this may seem small, its impact on atmospheric particles is profound. For hydrogen ions, which are common in the polar wind, this field exerts a force more than ten times stronger than gravity, explaining their supersonic escape speeds. Oxygen ions also receive a substantial boost from this newly confirmed field.

Additionally, the Endurance mission revealed an impressive 271% increase in the ionosphere's scale height, fundamentally altering our perception of Earth's upper atmosphere. This discovery opens new avenues for research on atmospheric evolution and its implications for the planet's past and future.

The confirmation of the ambipolar electric field represents a significant milestone in atmospheric science. It not only resolves longstanding questions about polar wind dynamics but also lays the foundation for future investigations into Earth's atmospheric processes. As scientists delve deeper into the implications of this third global energy field, we can expect new insights into climate patterns, space weather, and the complex interactions between our planet and its surroundings.