Surprise_NN1 In_II Earth_NN1 's_GE Upper_JJ Atmosphere_NN1 :_: Mode_NN1 Of_IO Energy_NN1 Transfer_NN1 From_II The_AT Solar_JJ Wind_NN1 Science_NN1 Daily_NP1 (_( Sep_NP1 ._. 
11_MC ,_, 2009_MC )_) --_JJ UCLA_NP1 atmospheric_JJ scientists_NN2 have_VH0 discovered_VVN a_AT1 previously_RR unknown_JJ basic_JJ mode_NN1 of_IO energy_NN1 transfer_NN1 from_II the_AT solar_JJ wind_NN1 to_II the_AT Earth_NN1 's_GE magnetosphere_NN1 ._. 
The_AT research_NN1 ,_, federally_RR funded_VVN by_II the_AT National_JJ Science_NN1 Foundation_NN1 ,_, could_VM improve_VVI the_AT safety_NN1 and_CC reliability_NN1 of_IO spacecraft_NN that_CST operate_VV0 in_II the_AT upper_JJ atmosphere_NN1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 's_VBZ like_II something_PN1 else_RR is_VBZ heating_VVG the_AT atmosphere_NN1 besides_II the_AT sun_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 discovery_NN1 is_VBZ like_II finding_VVG it_PPH1 got_VVD hotter_JJR when_CS the_AT sun_NN1 went_VVD down_RP ,_, "_" said_VVD Larry_NP1 Lyons_NP1 ,_, UCLA_NP1 professor_NN1 of_IO atmospheric_JJ and_CC oceanic_JJ sciences_NN2 and_CC a_AT1 co-author_NN1 of_IO the_AT research_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ is_VBZ in_II press_NN1 in_II two_MC companion_NN1 papers_NN2 in_II the_AT Journal_NN1 of_IO Geophysical_JJ Research_NN1 ._. 
The_AT sun_NN1 ,_, in_II31 addition_II32 to_II33 emitting_VVG radiation_NN1 ,_, emits_VVZ a_AT1 stream_NN1 of_IO ionized_JJ particles_NN2 called_VVN the_AT solar_JJ wind_NN1 that_CST affects_VVZ the_AT Earth_NN1 and_CC other_JJ planets_NN2 in_II the_AT solar_JJ system_NN1 ._. 
The_AT solar_JJ wind_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ carries_VVZ the_AT particles_NN2 from_II the_AT sun_NN1 's_GE magnetic_JJ field_NN1 ,_, known_VVN as_II the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 ,_, takes_VVZ about_RG three_MC or_CC four_MC days_NNT2 to_TO reach_VVI the_AT Earth_NN1 ._. 
When_CS the_AT charged_JJ electrical_JJ particles_NN2 approach_VV0 the_AT Earth_NN1 ,_, they_PPHS2 carve_VV0 out_RP a_AT1 highly_RR magnetized_JJ region_NN1 --_NN1 the_AT magnetosphere_NN1 --_NN1 which_DDQ surrounds_VVZ and_CC protects_VVZ the_AT Earth_NN1 ._. 
Charged_JJ particles_NN2 carry_VV0 currents_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ cause_VV0 significant_JJ modifications_NN2 in_II the_AT Earth_NN1 's_GE magnetosphere_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 region_NN1 is_VBZ where_RRQ communications_NN2 spacecraft_NN operate_VV0 and_CC where_CS the_AT energy_NN1 releases_VVZ in_II space_NN1 known_VVN as_II substorms_NN2 wreak_VV0 havoc_NN1 on_II satellites_NN2 ,_, power_NN1 grids_NN2 and_CC communications_NN2 systems_NN2 ._. 
The_AT rate_NN1 at_II which_DDQ the_AT solar_JJ wind_NN1 transfers_NN2 energy_NN1 to_II the_AT magnetosphere_NN1 can_VM vary_VVI widely_RR ,_, but_CCB what_DDQ determines_VVZ the_AT rate_NN1 of_IO energy_NN1 transfer_NN1 is_VBZ unclear_JJ ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 thought_VVD it_PPH1 was_VBDZ known_VVN ,_, but_CCB we_PPIS2 came_VVD up_RP with_IW a_AT1 major_JJ surprise_NN1 ,_, "_" said_VVD Lyons_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS conducted_VVD the_AT research_NN1 with_IW Heejeong_NP1 Kim_NP1 ,_, an_AT1 assistant_JJ researcher_NN1 in_II the_AT UCLA_NP1 Department_NN1 of_IO Atmospheric_JJ and_CC Oceanic_JJ Sciences_NN2 ,_, and_CC other_JJ colleagues_NN2 ._. 
"_" This_DD1 is_VBZ where_RRQ everything_PN1 gets_VVZ started_VVN ,_, "_" Lyons_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" Any_DD important_JJ variations_NN2 in_II the_AT magnetosphere_NN1 occur_VV0 because_CS there_EX is_VBZ a_AT1 transfer_NN1 of_IO energy_NN1 from_II the_AT solar_JJ wind_NN1 to_II the_AT particles_NN2 in_II the_AT magnetosphere_NN1 ._. 
The_AT first_MD critical_JJ step_NN1 is_VBZ to_TO understand_VVI how_RRQ the_AT energy_NN1 gets_VVZ transferred_VVN from_II the_AT solar_JJ wind_NN1 to_II the_AT magnetosphere_NN1 ._. "_" 
The_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 fluctuates_VVZ greatly_RR in_II magnitude_NN1 and_CC direction_NN1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 all_DB have_VH0 thought_VVN for_IF our_APPGE entire_JJ careers_NN2 --_NN1 I_PPIS1 learned_VVD it_PPH1 as_II a_AT1 graduate_NN1 student_NN1 --_NN1 that_CST this_DD1 energy_NN1 transfer_NN1 rate_NN1 is_VBZ primarily_RR controlled_VVN by_II the_AT direction_NN1 of_IO the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 ,_, "_" Lyons_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" The_AT closer_JJR to_II southward-pointing_NN1 the_AT magnetic_JJ field_NN1 is_VBZ ,_, the_AT stronger_JJR the_AT energy_NN1 transfer_NN1 rate_NN1 is_VBZ ,_, and_CC the_AT stronger_JJR the_AT magnetic_JJ field_NN1 is_VBZ in_II that_DD1 direction_NN1 ._. 
If_CS it_PPH1 is_VBZ both_RR southward_RL and_CC big_JJ ,_, the_AT energy_NN1 transfer_NN1 rate_NN1 is_VBZ even_RR bigger_JJR ._. "_" 
However_RR ,_, Lyons_NP1 ,_, Kim_NP1 and_CC their_APPGE colleagues_NN2 analyzed_VVD radar_NN1 data_NN that_CST measure_VV0 the_AT strength_NN1 of_IO the_AT interaction_NN1 by_II measuring_VVG flows_NN2 in_II the_AT ionosphere_NN1 ,_, the_AT part_NN1 of_IO Earth_NN1 's_GE upper_JJ atmosphere_NN1 ionized_VVD by_II solar_JJ radiation_NN1 ._. 
The_AT results_NN2 surprised_VVD them_PPHO2 ._. 
"_" Any_DD space_NN1 physicist_NN1 ,_, including_II me_PPIO1 ,_, would_VM have_VHI said_VVN a_AT1 year_NNT1 ago_RA there_EX could_VM not_XX be_VBI substorms_NN2 when_RRQ the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 was_VBDZ staying_VVG northward_RL ,_, but_CCB that_DD1 's_VBZ wrong_JJ ,_, "_" Lyons_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" Generally_RR ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ correct_JJ ,_, but_CCB when_CS you_PPY have_VH0 a_AT1 fluctuating_JJ interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 ,_, you_PPY can_VM have_VHI substorms_NN2 going_VVG off_RP once_RR per_II hour_NNT1 ._. 
"_" Heejeong_VV0 used_JJ detailed_JJ statistical_JJ analysis_NN1 to_TO prove_VVI this_DD1 phenomenon_NN1 is_VBZ real_JJ ._. 
Convection_NN1 in_II the_AT magnetosphere_NN1 and_CC ionosphere_NN1 can_VM be_VBI strongly_RR driven_VVN by_II these_DD2 fluctuations_NN2 ,_, independent_JJ of_IO the_AT direction_NN1 of_IO the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 ._. "_" 
Convection_NN1 describes_VVZ the_AT transfer_NN1 of_IO heat_NN1 ,_, or_CC thermal_JJ energy_NN1 ,_, from_II one_MC1 location_NN1 to_II another_DD1 through_II the_AT movement_NN1 of_IO fluids_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 liquids_NN2 ,_, gases_NN2 or_CC slow-flowing_JJ solids_NN2 ._. 
"_" The_AT energy_NN1 of_IO the_AT particles_NN2 and_CC the_AT fields_NN2 in_II the_AT magnetosphere_NN1 can_VM vary_VVI by_II large_JJ amounts_NN2 ._. 
It_PPH1 can_VM be_VBI 10_MC times_NNT2 higher_RRR or_CC 10_MC times_NNT2 lower_RRR from_II day_NNT1 to_II day_NNT1 ,_, even_RR from_II half-hour_NNT1 to_II half-hour_NNT1 ._. 
These_DD2 are_VBR huge_JJ variations_NN2 in_II particle_NN1 intensities_NN2 ,_, magnetic_JJ field_NN1 strength_NN1 and_CC electric_JJ field_NN1 strength_NN1 ,_, "_" Lyons_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
The_AT magnetosphere_NN1 was_VBDZ discovered_VVN in_II 1957_MC ._. 
By_II the_AT late_JJ 1960s_MC2 ,_, it_PPH1 had_VHD become_VVN accepted_VVN among_II scientists_NN2 that_CST the_AT energy_NN1 transfer_NN1 rate_NN1 was_VBDZ controlled_VVN predominantly_RR by_II the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 ._. 
Lyons_NP1 and_CC Kim_NP1 were_VBDR planning_VVG to_TO study_VVI something_PN1 unrelated_JJ when_CS they_PPHS2 made_VVD the_AT discovery_NN1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 were_VBDR looking_VVG to_TO do_VDI something_PN1 else_RR ,_, when_CS we_PPIS2 saw_VVD life_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX the_AT way_NN1 we_PPIS2 expected_VVD it_PPH1 to_TO be_VBI ,_, "_" Lyons_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" The_AT most_RGT exciting_JJ discoveries_NN2 in_II science_NN1 sometimes_RT just_RR drop_VV0 in_II your_APPGE lap_NN1 ._. 
In_II our_APPGE field_NN1 ,_, this_DD1 finding_NN1 is_VBZ pretty_RG earth-shaking_JJ ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ an_AT1 entire_JJ new_JJ mode_NN1 of_IO energy_NN1 transfer_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ is_VBZ step_NN1 one_MC1 ._. 
The_AT next_MD step_NN1 is_VBZ to_TO understand_VVI how_RRQ it_PPH1 works_VVZ ._. 
It_PPH1 must_VM be_VBI a_AT1 completely_RR different_JJ process_NN1 ._. "_" 
The_AT National_JJ Science_NN1 Foundation_NN1 has_VHZ funded_VVN ground-based_JJ radars_NN2 which_DDQ send_VV0 off_RP radio_NN1 waves_VVZ that_CST reflect_VV0 off_RP the_AT ionosphere_NN1 ,_, allowing_VVG scientists_NN2 to_TO measure_VVI the_AT speed_NN1 at_II which_DDQ the_AT ions_NN2 in_II the_AT ionosphere_NN1 are_VBR moving_VVG ._. 
The_AT radar_NN1 stations_NN2 are_VBR based_VVN in_II Greenland_NP1 and_CC Alaska_NP1 ._. 
The_AT NSF_NP1 recently_RR built_VVN the_AT Poker_NN1 Flat_NN1 Research_NN1 Range_NN1 north_ND1 of_IO Fairbanks_NP1 ._. 
"_" The_AT National_JJ Science_NN1 Foundation_NN1 's_GE radars_NN2 have_VH0 enabled_VVN us_PPIO2 to_TO make_VVI this_DD1 discovery_NN1 ,_, "_" Lyons_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 could_VM not_XX have_VHI done_VDN this_DD1 without_IW them_PPHO2 ._. "_" 
The_AT direction_NN1 of_IO the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 is_VBZ important_JJ ,_, Lyons_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
Is_VBZ it_PPH1 going_VVG in_II the_AT same_DA direction_NN1 as_CSA the_AT magnetic_JJ field_NN1 going_VVG through_II the_AT Earth_NN1 ?_? 
Does_VDZ the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 connect_VV0 with_IW the_AT Earth_NN1 's_GE magnetic_JJ field_NN1 ?_? 
"_" We_PPIS2 thought_VVD there_EX could_VM not_XX be_VBI strong_JJ convection_NN1 and_CC that_CST the_AT energy_NN1 necessary_JJ for_IF a_AT1 substorm_NN1 could_VM not_XX develop_VVI unless_CS the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 is_VBZ southward_RL ,_, "_" Lyons_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 've_VH0 said_VVN it_PPH1 and_CC taught_VVN it_PPH1 ._. 
Now_RT I_PPIS1 have_VH0 to_TO say_VVI ,_, 'But_VV0 when_RRQ you_PPY have_VH0 these_DD2 fluctuations_NN2 ,_, which_DDQ is_VBZ not_XX a_AT1 rare_JJ occurrence_NN1 ,_, you_PPY can_VM have_VHI substorms_NN2 going_VVG off_RP once_RR an_AT1 hour_NNT1 ._. '_" "_" 
Lyons_NP1 and_CC Kim_NP1 used_VVD the_AT radar_NN1 measurements_NN2 to_TO study_VVI the_AT strength_NN1 of_IO the_AT interaction_NN1 between_II the_AT solar_JJ wind_NN1 and_CC the_AT Earth_NN1 's_GE magnetosphere_NN1 ._. 
One_MC1 of_IO their_APPGE papers_NN2 addresses_VVZ convection_NN1 and_CC its_APPGE affect_NN1 on_II substorms_NN2 to_TO show_VVI it_PPH1 is_VBZ a_AT1 global_JJ phenomenon_NN1 ._. 
"_" When_CS the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 is_VBZ pointing_VVG northward_RL ,_, there_EX is_VBZ not_XX much_DA1 happening_NN1 ,_, but_CCB when_RRQ the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 is_VBZ southward_RL ,_, the_AT flow_NN1 speeds_VVZ in_II the_AT polar_JJ regions_NN2 of_IO the_AT ionosphere_NN1 are_VBR strong_JJ ._. 
You_PPY see_VV0 much_RR stronger_JJR convection_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 is_VBZ what_DDQ we_PPIS2 expect_VV0 ,_, "_" Lyons_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 looked_VVD carefully_RR at_II the_AT data_NN ,_, and_CC said_VVD ,_, 'Wait_VV0 a_AT1 minute_NNT1 !_! 
There_EX are_VBR times_NNT2 when_RRQ the_AT field_NN1 is_VBZ northward_RL and_CC there_EX are_VBR strong_JJ flows_NN2 in_II the_AT dayside_NN1 polar_JJ ionosphere_NN1 ._. '_" "_" 
The_AT dayside_NN1 has_VHZ the_AT most_RGT direct_JJ contact_NN1 with_IW the_AT solar_JJ wind_NN1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 's_VBZ not_XX supposed_JJ to_TO happen_VVI that_DD1 way_NN1 ,_, "_" Lyons_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 want_VV0 to_TO understand_VVI why_RRQ that_DD1 is_VBZ ._. "_" 
"_" Heejeong_NP1 separated_VVD the_AT data_NN into_II when_RRQ the_AT solar_JJ wind_NN1 was_VBDZ fluctuating_VVG a_AT1 lot_NN1 and_CC when_CS it_PPH1 was_VBDZ fluctuating_VVG a_RR21 little_RR22 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 added_VVD ._. 
"_" When_CS the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 fluctuations_NN2 are_VBR low_JJ ,_, she_PPHS1 saw_VVD the_AT pattern_NN1 everyone_PN1 knows_VVZ ,_, but_CCB when_RRQ she_PPHS1 analyzed_VVD the_AT pattern_NN1 when_CS the_AT interplanetary_JJ magnetic_JJ field_NN1 was_VBDZ fluctuating_VVG strongly_RR ,_, that_DD1 pattern_NN1 completely_RR disappeared_VVD ._. 
Instead_RR ,_, the_AT strength_NN1 of_IO the_AT flows_NN2 depended_VVN on_II the_AT strength_NN1 of_IO the_AT fluctuations_NN2 ._. 
"_" So_RR rather_II21 than_II22 the_AT picture_NN1 of_IO the_AT connection_NN1 between_II the_AT magnetic_JJ field_NN1 of_IO the_AT sun_NN1 and_CC the_AT Earth_NN1 controlling_VVG the_AT transfer_NN1 of_IO energy_NN1 by_II the_AT solar_JJ wind_NN1 to_II the_AT Earth_NN1 's_GE magnetosphere_NN1 ,_, something_PN1 else_RR is_VBZ happening_VVG that_DD1 is_VBZ equally_RR interesting_JJ ._. 
The_AT next_MD question_NN1 is_VBZ discovering_VVG what_DDQ that_DD1 is_VBZ ._. 
We_PPIS2 have_VH0 some_DD ideas_NN2 of_IO what_DDQ that_DD1 may_VM be_VBI ,_, which_DDQ we_PPIS2 will_VM test_VVI ._. "_" 
