Geomagnetic storms could be “supercharged” by CO2
A rising amount of CO2 in the atmosphere could change the way geomagnetic storms impact the planet, research from US National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) has found. This could have potential implications for many of the orbiting satellites.
Geomagnetic storms are caused by eruptions of charged particles from the Sun’s surface, hitting the upper atmosphere of the earth. They are an increasing challenge as our society becomes more and more dependent on technology including satellites. The storms can temporarily increase the density of the upper atmosphere and drag on satellites, impacting their speed, altitude, and how long they can remain operational.
The study relied on an advanced computer model to conclude that the density of the upper atmosphere could be lowered by future geomagnetic storms compared with current storms of the same intensity. This is because the baseline density will be lower and future storms may not increase it to levels as high as we currently see. The change in density could also be greater by future storms.
“The way that energy from the Sun affects the atmosphere will change in the future because the background density of the atmosphere is different and that creates a different response,” said NSF NCAR scientist Nicolas Pedatella, the lead author. “For the satellite industry, this is an especially important question because of the need to design satellites for specific atmospheric conditions.”
The study, a collaboration with Japan’s Kyushu University, was published in Geophysical Research Letters.
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