Open AccessResearch Spotlight: Conditions in the stratosphere influence the ionosphere
Author(s) -
Tretkoff Ernie
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/eo091i025p00228-03
Subject(s) - ionosphere , atmosphere (unit) , altitude (triangle) , stratosphere , atmospheric sciences , earth's magnetic field , environmental science , meteorology , geology , geophysics , physics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , magnetic field
Variations in the ionosphere, the charged upper portion of Earth's atmosphere (about 100–1000 kilometers in altitude), can affect radio communications and navigation systems. Solar activity is known to strongly influence the ionosphere; recently, though, scientists have recognized that lower levels of the atmosphere can also affect ionospheric conditions. These effects have been hard to see because the ionosphere varies so rapidly in response to solar and geomagnetic activity.