Chinese scientists find evidence of lunar tide effects on Earth's plasmasphere.
The plasmasphere is a cold dense plasma in the inner part of the magnetosphere.
According to scientists, effects caused by lunar tides were reported in the Earth's crust.
Lunar tides also affect the oceans, neutral gas-dominated atmosphere and near-ground geomagnetic field.
The scientists made the new findings by using data from multiple spacecraft over a period of 4 decades.
The new findings expand our understanding of Earth-Moon interactions in a new direction.
Chinese scientists find evidence of lunar tide effects on Earth's plasmasphere.
They also provide important clues for future investigations in broader regions.
Early scientists found a connection between the tides and the movement of the moon thousands of years ago.
More recent evidence suggests the moon's pull acts on the ionosphere as well.
The researchers propose that three basic elements are responsible for the tidal variations.
The existence of a two-body system, Earth & Moon along with the existence of the plasma field and the existence of the magnetic field.
They further suggest that similar tidal variations likely occur in other two-body systems throughout the universe.