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(December 2011)| Today the term also includes the science of the
corresponding regions of the atmospheres of other planets.
Aeronomy is a branch of atmospheric physics. Research in
aeronomy requires access to balloons, satellites, and sounding
rockets which provide valuable data about this region of the
atmosphere. Atmospheric tides dominate the dynamics of the
mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Therefore, understanding of
atmospheric tides is essential to understanding the atmosphere
as a whole. Other phenomena studied are upper-atmospheric
lightning discharges, such as red sprites, sprite halos, blue
jets, and elves. Atmospheric tides  Atmospheric tides form an
important mechanism for transporting energy input into the lower
atmosphere from the upper atmosphere, while dominating the
dynamics of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Therefore,
understanding the atmospheric tides is essential in
understanding the atmosphere as a whole. Modeling and