Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32656: Capturing Invisible Waves: The Volny Experiment on Atmospheric Disturbances

What if we could 'see' the movement of atmospheric waves that affect weather and climate? That’s exactly what the Volny experiment aimed to do. Led by M. Gaidukov from the E.K. Fyodorov Institute, this research observed wave disturbances in Earth’s middle atmosphere using near-infrared (IR) imaging during Expeditions 12 and 13.

By capturing near-IR radiation patterns, scientists could track gravity waves—ripples in the atmosphere caused by phenomena like mountain airflow and thunderstorms. These waves influence global weather patterns and the dynamics of the upper atmosphere.

Conducting these observations from the ISS provided a unique vantage point with minimal atmospheric interference. The results enhance our understanding of atmospheric science and contribute to improved climate modeling and satellite mission planning.

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