NASA recently had a breakthrough that confirmed the existence of a weak, planet-wide electric field known as the ambipolar electric field. They call the discovery as important as the discovery of gravity and say it will help us understand how Earth’s atmosphere works. It can help us understand how our atmosphere has evolved and better understand the atmospheres of other planets.
Scientists believed it existed for more than 60 years, but they were only recently able to measure it thanks to advancements in scientific instruments and the successful launch of NASA’s Endurance mission.
What is the ambipolar electric field?
The ambipolar electric field forms in the ionosphere, between 60 and 300 kilometers (37.3 miles and 186.4 miles) above the surface. In this part of the atmosphere, the Sun breaks down molecules like water, creating positively charged particles (oxygen) as well as negative ones (hydrogen). Then, the positive ions get pushed out into space while the negative ones return to Earth. The term “ambipolar” reflects this bidirectional nature, meaning it affects both ions and electrons.
How it impacts Earth’s atmosphere
Scientists first discovered an ambipolar electric field on Venus while trying to determine why it lost all its water, but the Earth didn’t. They found an ambipolar electric field around the planet with a charge of about 10 volts, which they believe is strong enough to expel all of the water from Venus over millions of years.
Earth’s ambipolar field, on the other hand, is about 25 times weaker than that of Venus, and its small charge does not force us to face the same fate. However, it is responsible for lifting our atmosphere and helping to create movement that results in our weather patterns.
How did scientists detect the ambipolar field?
Scientists first hypothesized about the ambipolar field more than 60 years ago, but it took the development of special equipment aboard the Endurance mission to finally confirm the theory. The rocket launched from near the North Pole with a destination 477 miles above ground. During this flight, it measured a slight voltage difference of just 0.55 volts, which was enough to detect the presence of the ambipolar electric field.
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