As per a recent study, the phenomenon that causes aurorae is also responsible for causing mesospheric ozone layer depletion.
It is also known as northern lights or polar lights. A group of scientists led by Prof. Yoshizumi Miyoshi from Nagoya University in Japan studied this phenomenon.
The study aims to understand the significance of the depletion in relation to global climate change. As per the study, scientists have found that the ozone layer depletion in the mesosphere could be occurring specifically during aurorae.
The results of this study are published in the journal Nature’s Scientific Reports. As per this study, electrons from the sun remain trapped in the Earth’s magnetosphere.
Interactions between electrons and plasma waves could cause the trapped electrons to come up to earth’s upper atmosphere (thermosphere). This phenomenon is called electron precipitation. This causes aurorae too.
Now a recent study shows that the same phenomenon is responsible for local ozone layer depletion in the mesosphere. This ozone layer depletion that could be occurring specifically during aurorae is adding to climate change.
Despite several attempts, none were able to fully understand how the electron precipitation is causing ozone depletion.
The trapped electrons in the earth’s magnetosphere have a wide energy range. This indicated the presence of chorus waves in regions of space.
Moreover, Arase had observed plasma waves causing precipitations of these electrons across the wide energy range.
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