Planets and Moons ID: 2963

The NOAA POES Satellite Detects Record Particle Flows into the Earth's Upper Atmosphere

Visualizations by Tom Bridgman Released on July 8, 2004

This set of still images from the NOAA/POES satellite are derived from measurements by particle detectors in low Earth orbit. The data are sampled along the orbit track and then interpolated in time and position for the rest of the polar region. This interpolation is responsible for the curved block-shaped artifacts in the images.

The particle flux increases dramatically over the polar cap, as they are carried Earthward along the magetic field lines.

Visualization Credits

Tom Bridgman (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Animator
Xiaohua Fang (University of Michigan): Scientist
David Evans (NOAA/SEC): Scientist
William Steigerwald (NASA/GSFC): Writer

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/NOAA/University of Michigan