Daily Current Affairs : 21-November-2023
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is gearing up for a groundbreaking venture – the Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE). This mission aims to delve into one of the crucial influencers of space weather: Earth’s weather.
Understanding Space Weather
Space weather, analogous to Earth’s weather, is the perpetual state of the space environment under the Sun’s influence. This includes solar flares, emissions, and prevailing matter in space. Extreme space weather events directly impact vital Earth installations, such as satellite communication, radio communication, navigation systems, and power grids.
Apart from solar influences, space weather is also shaped by terrestrial weather, creating a dynamic and interconnected system.
Unveiling Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGWs)
In the vast expanse of the atmosphere, various waves traverse both horizontally and vertically. One such vertical wave, Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGWs), emerges during extreme weather events or sudden disturbances causing a vertical displacement of stable air.
AGWs, generated by natural phenomena like thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes, contribute to atmospheric stability. These waves propagate through the stable layers of the atmosphere, reaching into space and influencing space weather.
The AWE Mission: Bridging Terrestrial and Space Weather
The Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) is a pioneering initiative within NASA’s Heliophysics Explorers Program. It seeks to unravel the intricate links between lower atmospheric waves and upper atmospheric phenomena, ultimately impacting space weather.
Planned for deployment on the International Space Station (ISS), AWE will observe Earth from its vantage point, focusing on the mesmerizing airglow bands. Operating at the mesopause (85 to 87 km above Earth’s surface), it aims to understand the forces at play in driving space weather in the upper atmosphere.
AWE’s Scientific Endeavors
AWE is equipped with an Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (ATMT) containing four telescopes with imaging radiometers. This instrument will meticulously map the mesopause, providing scientists with brightness data at specific wavelengths. The obtained information will be converted into a temperature map, unraveling the mysteries of airglow movement and its role in the upper atmosphere and space weather.
Important Points:
Understanding Space Weather
- Space weather parallels Earth’s weather, influenced by solar flares, emissions, and matter in space.
- Impact on Earth’s critical infrastructure: satellite communication, radio communication, navigation systems, and power grids.
- Interconnected relationship with terrestrial weather shaping a dynamic space environment.
Unveiling Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGWs)
- AGWs, a vertical wave in the atmosphere, generated during extreme weather events or sudden disturbances.
- Natural phenomena like thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes contribute to AGW formation.
- AGWs propagate through stable layers of the atmosphere, extending into space, influencing space weather.
The AWE Mission: Bridging Terrestrial and Space Weather
- AWE, a NASA initiative under the Heliophysics Explorers Program.
- Focus on unraveling links between lower atmospheric waves and upper atmospheric phenomena, impacting space weather.
- Deployment on the International Space Station (ISS) to observe Earth from a vantage point.
- Mesopause observation (85 to 87 km above Earth’s surface) to understand forces driving space weather in the upper atmosphere.
AWE’s Scientific Endeavors
- Equipped with Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (ATMT) on ISS.
- Four telescopes with imaging radiometers for detailed mapping of the mesopause.
- Data obtained converted into a temperature map to reveal airglow movement and its role in upper atmosphere and space weather.
Why In News
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is set to launch the Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) to study one of the important drivers of Space weather – the Earth’s weather, aiming to enhance our understanding of the intricate interactions between Earth’s atmosphere and the broader space environment.
MCQs about NASA’s AWE Mission
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What is the primary objective of NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE)?
A. Studying solar flares and emissions
B. Investigating the impact of terrestrial weather on Earth’s climate
C. Understanding the links between lower atmospheric waves and upper atmospheric phenomena
D. Analyzing the behavior of space-based aircraft orbits
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What are Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGWs) and where do they originate?
A. Horizontal waves generated by solar flares
B. Vertical waves generated by thunderstorms and hurricanes in the atmosphere
C. Space-based disturbances impacting Earth’s weather
D. Waves formed in the mesosphere due to satellite activities
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Where will NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE) be deployed for observation?
A. Earth’s surface
B. Moon’s orbit
C. Mars atmosphere
D. International Space Station (ISS)
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What is the role of the Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper (ATMT) in the AWE mission?
A. Studying solar flares in the mesosphere
B. Mapping the mesopause to understand airglow movement
C. Analyzing atmospheric gravity waves in real-time
D. Monitoring space-based aircraft orbits from the ISS
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