Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Scientists baffled by unusual upper atmosphere shrinkage
CNN.com ^ | 07/17/2010 | Derrick Ho

Posted on 07/17/2010 12:27:04 AM PDT by OldDeckHand

(CNN) -- An upper layer of Earth's atmosphere recently shrank so much that researchers are at a loss to adequately explain it, NASA said on Thursday.

The thermosphere, which blocks harmful ultraviolet rays, expands and contracts regularly due to the sun's activities. As carbon dioxide increases, it has a cooling effect at such high altitudes, which also contributes to the contraction.

But even these two factors aren't fully explaining the extraordinary contraction which, though unlikely to affect the weather, can affect the movement of satellites, researchers said.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: atmospher; catastrophism; satellites; science; thermosphere
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last
To: OldDeckHand

Solar wind?


21 posted on 07/17/2010 4:21:31 AM PDT by valkyry1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand

Great. Something else to worry about...


22 posted on 07/17/2010 4:22:27 AM PDT by ajwharton (FL GOP Pollwatcher, ACORN-buster, now in NH!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand


Mega-Maid's Fault!
23 posted on 07/17/2010 4:22:29 AM PDT by VanDeKoik (Iran doesnt have a 2nd admendment. Ya see how that turned out?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

Saw the same type of lightening years ago in the Grand Canyon. Spectacular!!! Like fingers reaching out across the desert. No rain up on the rim, but it poured down in the canyon and made for some excellent white water rafting the first day out!!!


24 posted on 07/17/2010 4:37:08 AM PDT by EBH (Our First Right...."it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

Thanks OldDeckHand.
 
Catastrophism
 
· join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe ·
 

25 posted on 07/17/2010 4:42:04 AM PDT by SunkenCiv ("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand
"Bush's fault."

Nah. It's obviously another effect of the BP spill. Along with the "methalyne chloride" containing oil.

26 posted on 07/17/2010 4:43:45 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Berlin_Freeper

When I was a kid we called it “heat lightning” - frequent discharges between the clouds that produced an occasional and delayed low rumble. Usually happened during the hottest nights of the year.


27 posted on 07/17/2010 4:44:02 AM PDT by andy58-in-nh (America does not need to be organized: it needs to be liberated.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand

The collapse occurred during what’s known as a “solar minimum” from 2007 to 2009, during which the sun plunged into an unprecedented low of inactivity. Sun spots were scarce and solar flares were nonexistent, NASA reported.

Still, the collapse of the thermosphere was bigger than the sun’s activity alone can explain.

Emmert suggests that the increasing amounts of carbon dioxide making its way into the upper atmosphere might have played a role in the anomaly.


Another unexpected occurrence. What is funny is how they recognize the solar minimum was unprecedented...so they don’t expected and unprecedented collapse of the thermosphere?

Me thinks these scientists need to check their models and their premise regarding the effects of the sun. The CO2 thing is just a distraction from what is really happening right in front of our eyes. LOL.

It is abundantly clear that trying to fit 10lbs of BS into their 2lb bag isn’t working.


28 posted on 07/17/2010 4:44:32 AM PDT by EBH (Our First Right...."it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand

Could it be changes in the magnetic field?


29 posted on 07/17/2010 4:48:55 AM PDT by bmwcyle (It is Satan's fault)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand

As the thermosphere shrinks, watch the price of thermoses skyrocket.


30 posted on 07/17/2010 4:50:52 AM PDT by Larry Lucido (You can evade reality, but you cannot evade the consequences of evading reality. ~Ayn Rand)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hoosier-Daddy

Completely unexpected!


31 posted on 07/17/2010 5:16:01 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand

http://www.iceagenow.com/Record_Collapse_of_Earths_Upper_Atmosphere.htm


32 posted on 07/17/2010 5:19:29 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hoosier-Daddy

How about if they look at the decrease in the dipolar strength of our magnetosphere. ......


33 posted on 07/17/2010 5:19:40 AM PDT by tired&retired
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Carley

It’s the new dawn of the next ice age.


34 posted on 07/17/2010 5:21:15 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: bmwcyle

“Could it be changes in the magnetic field?”

Not just in the earth’s magnetic field, but also in the sun’s fields. I read recently on the Canadian Geophysics site (they monitor the earth’s magnetic field strength and the North Pole movement) that the movement of the North Pole across Canada now has an 85 kilometer daily circular wobble. Kind of like a top wobbles before it goes totally out of balance.


35 posted on 07/17/2010 5:26:18 AM PDT by tired&retired
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Hoosier-Daddy

shrinkage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cUNNKzj_Nc&feature=related


36 posted on 07/17/2010 5:28:26 AM PDT by broken_arrow1 (I regret that I have but one life to give for my country - Nathan Hale "Patriot")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Condor51
Link to story about Super Gamma Ray Burst
37 posted on 07/17/2010 5:31:20 AM PDT by SubMareener (Become a monthly donor! Free FreeRepublic.com from Quarterly FReepathons!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: tired&retired

If you get more information on this please keep us posted. Thank you


38 posted on 07/17/2010 5:31:33 AM PDT by bmwcyle (It is Satan's fault)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: OldDeckHand; SteamShovel; Desdemona; grey_whiskers; proud_yank; Horusra; Thunder90; ...
 


Beam me to Planet Gore !

39 posted on 07/17/2010 5:38:25 AM PDT by steelyourfaith ("Release the Second Chakra !!!!!!!" ... Al Gore, 10/24/06)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Jim Reeves: Blue Skies
40 posted on 07/17/2010 5:40:24 AM PDT by csvset
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson