Earth’s Ionosphere Disturbed By Gamma-Ray Burst

Why in News:

• A gamma-ray burst (GRB) from a supernova explosion in a distant galaxy, nearly two billion light-years away, significantly disturbed Earth’s ionosphere.

​Ionosphere: 

• The ionosphere is a layer of Earth’s upper atmosphere, extending from about 60 km to 1,000 km above the surface.
• It’s characterized by a high concentration of ions and free electrons, created by solar radiation.

Role in Radio Communication:

• The ionosphere reflects radio waves, enabling long-distance radio communication.
• This reflection occurs because the free electrons in the ionosphere can bounce radio waves back to Earth, allowing them to travel beyond the horizon.

Importance in GPS and Satellite Communication

• GPS signals pass through the ionosphere, making its study crucial for accurate GPS functioning.
• Satellite-to-Earth communications also rely on the ionosphere; understanding its properties helps in managing signal distortion