Deciphering Space Hurricanes

The term 'space hurricane' refers to a massive hurricane of plasma, spanning over 1000 km, detected in the Earth’s upper atmosphere.

• Space hurricanes, up until recently, were considered a theoretical concept. However, the direct observation of a space hurricane over the North Pole has substantiated their existence.
• Recordings from satellite observations in 2014 reveal a space hurricane over the North Pole that persisted for nearly eight hours, spinning counterclockwise at an astonishing speed of about 4700 miles per hour.
• Despite their massive size and speed, these phenomena remain invisible to the naked eye.
• Space hurricanes occur in the ionosphere and consist of a complex mix of magnetic field lines and fast-moving solar wind.
• The structure of a space hurricane resembles a funnel with a calm “eye” at the centre, encircled by several counterclockwise-spinning spiral arms of plasma. Plasma is an ionized gas found extensively in the solar system, including the Earth’s atmosphere.
• These phenomena were named 'hurricane' due to their structural similarity to terrestrial hurricanes or cyclones found in the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific.
• Essentially, a space hurricane is an environmental phenomenon where the storm is primarily composed of charged electrons and plasma instead of wind and rain.
• These phenomena are giant, funnel-like, spiral geomagnetic storms that occur above the Earth's polar ionosphere during extremely quiet conditions.
• Space hurricanes are linked to the aurora borealis phenomenon, as the electron precipitation from the storm’s funnel results in enormous, cyclone-shaped auroras.
• The observed space hurricane appeared as if the northern lights or aurora borealis were rotating in an unusual spiral shape.
• Space hurricanes comprise plasmas, which are extremely hot ionized gases that rotate at very high speeds.

The Formation of Space Hurricanes

Space hurricanes are generated due to the plasma released by the sun in the form of solar wind. These clouds of charged particles travel through space, triggering magnetic storms as they interact with magnetic fields.

Are Space Hurricanes a Threat to Us?

Space hurricanes, occurring many miles above the Earth's surface, do not pose a direct threat to humans. However, they can alter existing weather conditions, damage satellites in their path, and disrupt radio communications systems and GPS.

Who Discovered the Space Hurricane?

The space hurricane was detected by four satellites passing over the North Pole. Scientists at Shandong University in China were the first to observe this event, which took place in 2014. However, it was only in 2021 that a retrospective analysis of the data revealed the occurrence of this phenomenon.

According to scientists, plasma and magnetic fields in the atmosphere of planets exist throughout the universe, suggesting that space hurricanes could be a common occurrence.