Day Two and Three - Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5, 2007
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
The Greenland Space Science Symposium began with a day and a half of presentations designed for the general public. All talks centered around the unique perspective the poles offer to study the power of the Sun’s atmosphere as it interacts with Earth’s atmosphere.
The group is international, and the first three speakers are from Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Their topic of discussion was the importance of studying auroras and how each country approaches this study. Auroras are part of daily life in Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
The next few speakers reminisced about the early studies of auroras and the Earth’s magnetosphere. Many talked about the courage and bravery of the “early explorers” of space science.
Some key points they shared:
• The 11-year solar cycle reflects a pattern: an increase in the number of sunspots correlates with a decrease in the number of auroras.
• The Earth’s magnetic fields change during auroras.
• Early studies of the Earth’s ionosphere (the upper atmosphere above 100 km) show that it is ionized mostly by solar UV radiation. This layer of the atmosphere is used for long distance radio communication at high frequencies. Before the satellite era, radio communications beyond the horizon, depended on single or multi-reflections from the ionosphere.
• One of the first ionosphere stations was set up in Greenland. Soon there were three ionosphere stations in Greenland collecting data that was used to improve radio communications.
• A band of magnetometers was placed along the west coast of Greenland.
• Magnetometers and radar measure how the ionosphere and magnetosphere respond to solar winds.
• One challenge everyone faces is to bring data together for both a comprehensive and coherent view of the polar ionosphere, the magnetosphere, and solar winds.
The presentations moved to current patterns and trends in space science research. With the advent of new technology, this is a new era for geomagnetic study. Some key points from these discussions included:
• The magnetic north pole is moving … and quite rapidly.
• Geomagnetic satellites gather important data with extreme accuracy.
• Pairing ground data and satellite data greatly improves our understanding of the Earth’s magnetosphere.
• Solar winds affect Earth’s magnetosphere. These energized particles can also flow into Earth’s ionosphere. The magnetosphere and ionosphere affect each other.
• The auroral oval expands and contracts due to changes in the magnetosphere and ionosphere.
The Sun-Earth relationship was central to all presentations. Solar wind plasma shoots out of the Sun and, pulled by Earth’s geomagnetic field, streams towards Earth with great power. Earth’s magnetosphere protects us from most of this radiation, but the magnetosphere doesn’t block all radiation. Some of the particles flow into the ionosphere. Sun storms can disable satellites and airplanes, interrupt communications, and endanger those who get a good dose of radiation.
The Arctic and Antarctic regions are perfect sites for studying magnetospheric activity. The Arctic, a sea surrounded by land, and the Antarctic, land surrounded by ocean, are parts of the Earth system. This system is complex and scientists study the interconnections among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere.
The summer melting in Greenland has increased an average of 20% over the last 25 years. About 87% of the glaciers in the Antarctic penninsula have retreated in the last 50 years. Ice at both poles is changing.
What is causing this change? And … what else will be changed as a result of this change?
If there’s less sea ice, will there be more water? What will happen if the sea level rises? Will ocean currents vary? How will plants and animals be affected?
Is the Sun changing, too? If the Sun’s atmosphere changes, how will this affect Earth’s atmosphere? Ultimately, how will changes in the Sun affect Earth’s climate?
Working in polar regions and studying the Sun-Earth connection helps answer these questions … and raises more.
I am surrounded by visionaries in the field of space science. Their stories include acts of courage, daring, and fortitude. Many have traveled to and studied Antarctica and Greenland multiple times. One scientist shared stories of his first trip to Antarctica that was for “2 years and a bit.” They scoff at our modern hotel, complete with a phone and color TV. Their first trips to Greenland and Antarctica were much more rustic.
I will have a chance to talk to the man who helped orchestrate the move of an entire radar facility, 200 tons, from Alaska to Greenland. He shared a video that chronicled taking apart and putting together one of the premier radar facilities for space science research. I heard the story of how one of the group traveled over 2 days by dog sled to check on a failing unmanned magnetometer. The fix took less time than the telling of the story. There are the scientists that comb through mounds of data to find slight anomalies. And, as a result of these anomalies, work tirelessly to add more magnetometers to the field between those that line the west coast and east coast of Greenland.
I’m surrounded by innovators in the field of space science. Some look at the tiniest of details while others step back to see the beauty and complexity of Earth’s system as a whole. At lunch and dinner I hear about cutting-edge ideas and original use of new equipment. There seems to be a “passing of the torch” as those that have been in this field for over 30 years tell their stories to graduate students here for their first poster presentations. The pride of past successes is blended with the excitement of where new research is taking the group. There’s a synergy and power to the wonderings and ideas of this remarkable group.
These are the scientists and researchers that I will be able to interview this week.