Aberystwyth University scientists will use new radar to take 3D measurements of the Northern Lights for the very first time. The EISCAT_3D is being assembled in Scandinavia and will be ready later this year for researcher Dr Rosie Johnson, who will use the radar array to measure the ionosphere - the outer layer of the Earth's atmosphere. Dr Johnson said: “The ionosphere is complex and changes constantly from day to day due to variations in space weather conditions.
Felinfach artist donates print to raise money for 'vital community asset' Ceredigion's first Summer Roadshow hailed a success Aberystwyth Rotary Club donate thousands to Blood Bikes Wales Tributes paid to councillor Paul Hinge “Even small changes in the ionosphere can scatter radio waves from satellites interrupting communications and GPS that society is becoming increasingly reliant on. “Our focus will be to use the unprecedented resolution of EISCAT_3D to understand the small-scale changes of the ionosphere and the impact of this on technological systems.”The ionosphere is where the aurora borealis gets its light.
Charged sun particles get trapped in the Earth’s magnetic field and stream down into polar regions, hitting oxygen particles in the ionosphere 70km above Earth and up into space. Fantastic lights are created when these particles try to rid themselves of excess energy, creating a green glow. As well as radar to measure the aurora on Earth, Dr Johnson is also looking at it on Jupiter.
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