Listen to the sound of near-earth space

No one will be able to hear the human scream in space, robotic probes can catch the whistle of electrons in interstellar space. The electrons "jump" around electric and magnetic fields of the planet due to the movement of plasma waves. Waves are formed when electric and magnetic fields collide with "clumps" of ions and electrons, and as a result, the particles move at a speed higher than normal. When they gain such a speed, we can hear them.

Using the van Ullen satellites that orbit the Earth and study the radiation belt of the planet, NASA has recorded the sound.

Their "singing" is eerie, like the soundtrack of a science fiction movie of the 1960-ies, or if you have a good imagination, the rustle of the tropical jungle. The sounds that emit these particles and waves, depending on where they are relative to the Earth. Take the whistling waves. They produce different sounds in the plasmasphere, a region around the Earth, which is filled with cold plasma, and beyond it. Listen to whistling sound waves before arriving in the plasmasphere:

If wave "in sibilant mode" are outside the plasmasphere, they make a different sound. The plasma is warmer and less dense, the result is a very different noise. And he has another name — chorus waves. Why find out after listening to this video.

It seems that you are in the house filled with noisy birds, right? Choral waves — a result of low-energy electrons hit the plasma and share its energy with particles that are already there. It turns out the high pitched sound you hear.

When sound waves are traveling inside the plasmasphere, scientists call this process plasmopheresis hiss. NASA writes that sound similar to radio static. Still it's like breathing in the suit or using scuba gear.

There are a couple of theories as to what causes plazmofereza hiss. The first version associated with lightning strikes. Another hypothesis suggests that it is the choral waves, which penetrated into the plasmasphere.

The understanding of how plasma waves and particles interact with the plasmasphere, will lead to better forecasting of space weather. This will help protect satellites and communication in space.

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»