Professor Binzheng ZHANG
Professor Zhonghua YAO
Researcher // Professors Zhonghua YAO and Binzheng ZHANG, Associate Professors of the Department of Earth Sciences; Dr Junjie CHEN, Research Assistant Professor in the same Department
Collaborator // Gamera Consulting, Brambles Consulting, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Dartmouth College, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Université de Liège, Johns Hopkins University
Collaborator // Gamera Consulting, Brambles Consulting, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Dartmouth College, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Université de Liège, Johns Hopkins University
The aurora, a captivating light display near the poles, has intrigued us for ages. Beyond its beauty, it reveals secrets of planetary and solar interactions. Our space scientists and their collaborators have made exciting discoveries about this phenomenon, not just on Earth but also on planets like Jupiter and Saturn.
Auroras occur when charged particles from the Sun, known as the solar wind, interact with a planet's magnetic field. The solar wind is a stream of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, released from the Sun's outer layer. This interaction varies across planets, leading to different auroral shapes and patterns. Researchers have used advanced 3D models to uncover how factors like a planet's size, rotation speed, and solar wind conditions influence these light shows.
Understanding these interactions is crucial for predicting space weather, as the solar wind can trigger geomagnetic storms that disrupt satellites and power grids on Earth. By studying auroras, scientists improve their ability to forecast these events and mitigate their effects. This research also opens doors to exploring auroras on distant exoplanets, expanding our knowledge of the universe. Next time you see an aurora, remember it is more than a beautiful sight—it is a glimpse into the universe's intricate workings of the universe.
Image credit: Professor Zhonghua Yao
太空科學家對地球、木星和土星等行星上的極光 作出研究，揭示了行星磁場與太陽風之間的相互作用規律。他們的研究不僅有助於改善太空天氣預報，還 為未來的行星探索提供了指引。
Journal paper: A Unified Framework for Global Auroral Morphologies of Different Planets (published in Nature Astronomy, 2024)
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