Chris Scott, Professor of Space and Atmospheric Physics, said: “The images of neighbourhoods across Europe reduced to rubble due to wartime air raids are a lasting reminder of the destruction that can be caused by human-made explosions. But the impact of these bombs way up in the Earth’s atmosphere has never been realized until now.”
The effect of human activities on the composition of the atmosphere has long been extensively studied-release of chlorofluorocarbons and increased CO2 levels. However, a recent study by the researchers at The University of Reading showed that the ionosphere can be affected by events that occur on the earth’s surface.
After looking at the daily records at the Radio Research Centre in Slough, UK, collected between 1943-45, it was found that the height and electron concentration of the ionosphere was far more variable than expected by the current standing model. This implied that there were other events that influenced it.
The ionosphere is a region that includes the thermosphere, parts of the mesosphere and exosphere and is a prerequisite for long-range radio transmission. It itself is divided into layers- D,E and F, with F being the outermost one.
When the ionosphere was studied around the time of the 152 large air raids in Europe, it was found that the electron concentration was significantly decreased due to the shock-waves released by the explosions.
Each raid released energy equivalent to 300 lightning strikes. This opens discussions on various consequences of events on the surface like volcanic eruptions, lightning and earthquakes on the earth’s upper atmosphere.
For instance, since lightning strikes have distinct diurnal and seasonal cycles, this research could explain the seasonal anomaly in ionospheric F-region electron concentrations.
The scientists also aim to determine the minimum explosive energy required to create a disturbance in the upper atmosphere.
“The unprecedented power of these attacks has proved useful for scientists to gauge the impact such events can have hundreds of kilometers above the Earth, in addition to the devastation they caused on the ground.”, said Professor Patrick Major, University of Reading historian and a co-author of the study.
-Siddharth Murali
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