NASA scientists have confirmed the existence of a third global energy field around Earth, known as the ambipolar electric field. This force drives charged particles into space above the poles, contributing to the “polar wind” phenomenon observed by spacecraft since the 1960s.
The ambipolar electric field was hypothesized decades ago but required precise measurements to confirm its existence. NASA’s Endurance mission achieved this feat by launching an instrument-laden spacecraft from Svalbard on May 11, 2022. The onboard instruments detected a change in electric potential of 0.55 volts, confirming the field’s presence.
This weak but significant force has a profound impact on hydrogen and oxygen ions, boosting their speed to supersonic levels and affecting the scale height of the ionosphere. The research published in Nature offers new insights into the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere over time.
Source: https://newatlas.com/science/earth-third-global-energy-electric-field/