Only half the Earth’s ionosphere is being ionized by the Sun

[Rod Alexei]

What is the reason for this? Is it because of the Earth's rotation?

 

[256bits]

What is the reason for this? Is it because of the Earth's rotation?

If the Earth did not rotate would that change the "half" to another value?

 

[Evo]

What is the reason for this? Is it because of the Earth's rotation?

Hi Rod, please post your source for this so that everyone can read it. Thank you.

 

[davenn]

If the Earth did not rotate would that change the "half" to another value?

indeed !

@Rod Alexei ... have another try ... think about it from an Earth visibility point of view ...

do you now see the reason ? Dave

 

[davenn]

Hi Rod, please post your source for this so that everyone can read it. Thank you.

His thread title is correct
He is asking why ... he just has a misunderstanding of the real reason ... which is what 256bits and myself are trying to coax out of him

 

[Evo]

he just has a misunderstanding of the real reason ... which is what 256bits and myself are trying to coax out of him

Which is why I asked for the source, it often solves the problem.

 

[davenn]

Which is why I asked for the source, it often solves the problem.

I don't think there is a "source" as such ... he's just asking "Is it because of the Earth's rotation"
as in ... I wonder if this is the reason ...
He didn't state ... " I read somewhere that ..." making asking for a source valid

256bit has given a reason why it isn't by getting him to think about a non rotating Earth situation

Dave

 

[Evo]

I don't think there is a "source" as such

Exactly, that might be his first clue that his thinking is wrong. I guess I could word it "Have you actually read this anywhere?" But we ask for sources, because many times, people actually come up with some oddball website that they were reading and we need to explain why it's wrong. Or they read a valid website or book, but they misunderstood what they read. I find it best not to assume that they didn't read, see, or hear something that triggered the thought.

Btw, when a thread is started it should be fleshed out with reference to an acceptable source unless it is a well known topic. The body of the thread shouldn't be in the title. And fleshing out the thread with all of the facts becomes a learning thread for other members.

From our Guidelines

Generally, discussion topics should be traceable to standard textbooks or to peer-reviewed scientific literature

 

[Rod Alexei]

http://solar-center.stanford.edu/SID/activities/ionosphere.html
Here is my source guys. I forgot to mention "at any time". Why is it half not any other value ?

 

[davenn]

Why is it half not any other value ?

did you read 256bit's comment and ponder it ? ... it seems not
here it is again ...

If the Earth did not rotate would that change the "half" to another value?

and my comment

@Rod Alexei ... have another try ... think about it from an Earth visibility point of view ...

do you now see the reason ?

get a tennis ball, baseball etc ... what do you notice about the illumination of the ball if held in front of a lit light globe ?

and all your answers are in that link you provided

Dave

 

[Rod Alexei]

Here's my second try. Thanks for your replies !
I assume the tennis ball would be the earth, and the lit globe would be the sun.
Only half the tennis ball would be illuminated. (I guess)

 

[rootone]

Could it be because at a given time, half of the Earth is exposed to solar radiation and the other half is not?

 

[Rod Alexei]

Well I think I have to agree.

 

[rootone]

There is, but the amount of high energy radiation coming from sources other than the Sun is tiny.

 

[davenn]

Only half the tennis ball would be illuminated. (I guess)

exactly
... so it doesn't matter if the Earth rotates on it's axis or not, only ~1/2 is illuminated

The important thing to note is that what the ionisation is doing to the ionosphere's different layers during the day
compared to the absence of that ionising effect at niteDave