NASA measures Earth's ambipolar electric field after 60 years

techspot.com September 1, 2024, 08:00 PM UTC

NASA's Endurance mission has measured Earth's ambipolar electric field, a phenomenon that has eluded scientists for 60 years. The measurement, taken at an altitude of 477.23 miles, revealed a voltage change of 0.55 volts, sufficient to explain the polar wind's supersonic particle escape. This discovery enhances understanding of the ionosphere and suggests similar electric fields may exist on other planets, including Venus and Mars.


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