FM16 Press Conference: New research on the ionosphere, our interface to space

Where Earth's atmosphere ends and space begins is not clear-cut. We are, in fact, surrounded by a swath that is a bit of both. This area, the ionosphere, is where radio waves and satellite signals, like GPS, travel on their way to and from Earth. It’s also where you will find aurora, some satellites, and the international space station. Changes in this region can have huge effects on Earth, disrupting communications and shortening the lifetime of satellites. This press event will describe novel findings about the ionosphere and upper atmosphere, shedding light on how exactly space weather here can influence Earth and satellites. Additionally, attendees will hear details from another scientist about two upcoming NASA missions to study the ionosphere from different vantage points.
Participants:
Bob Robinson, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Catholic University of America, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A.;
Delores Knipp, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.;
Scott England, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, U.S.A.