Daily News Analysis » Earth’s Ionosphere Disturbed By Gamma-Ray Burst

Earth’s Ionosphere Disturbed By Gamma-Ray Burst

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

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.

 

  • A Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) is an extremely energetic explosion observed in distant galaxies.
  • They are the brightest electromagnetic events known to occur in the universe. 
  • GRBs are typically associated with the explosion of a massive star in a supernova or the collision of neutron stars.

 

​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