jdmann@cdp.uucp (David Yarrow) (10/12/89)
/* ---------- "Northern Lights Above Norway" ---------- */
/* Written 7pm 10/9/89 by David Yarrow(jdmann) in en.climate */
Source: Syr Herald, Tuesday, Oct 9 by AP
NORTHERN LIGHTS PUTTING ON SPECIAL SHOW
TROMSOE, Norway - A geomagnetic storm battering the Earth's poles is
frowing increasingly violent, and northern lights researchers call it the
best thing that's ever happened to them. The storm, caused by the
bombardment of energy from solar activity, is making the simmering aurora
borealis brighter, more colorful and more spectacular than usual this year.
Unni Pai Loevhaug, a space researcher, plans to fire bolts of electricity
at the ionosphere, the layer of Earth's atmosphere that acts like a movie
screen for the solar lights, to get an even better picture. The study
should offer insights into the universe and theories of physics and
"increase man's storehouse of knowledge," she said.
Her work may have practical applications in helping to overcome the havoc
that electrically charged lights can play with radio communications.
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COMMENTARY: Auroral lights make the normally invisible visible: namely,
the geomagnetic field. In this form of high altitude Kirlian high voltage
photography, dense winds of charged particles are captured within Earth's
magnetic field. These solar winds begin as eruptions from solar flares and
other disturbances on the sun's surface. According to their polarity,
charged particles captured by the geomagnetic field spiral down into the
Earth at either north or south poles. As they pass through the upper
atmosphere, these streams of charged particles ionize air molecules,
causing luminescent glowing.
Actually the phenomena is more complex and mysterious than this thumbnail
sketch. We're in a cycle of increased solar activity, supposedly the most
intense of the century. Thus Earth receives intensified bombardments of
high energy solar winds, and we see bright auroral displays. Another bright
auroral outburst in mid-March was seen as far south as the Mediterranean.
These solar storms affect satellite orbits, telecommunications, deep
drilling, navigation, power supply grids, and other disruptions of manmade
electomagnetic systems. For example, long east-west high-voltage power
lines experience power surges as charged particles sweep through Earth's
skin. Increased high altitude friction generated by surging currents of
charged particles increases atmospheric drag on Earth's rotation, to throw
synchronous satellites out of orbit. Increasing ionization alters the
ionosphere's electrical density to disrupt radio & telecommunications.
Little is known or theorized about how these solar storms affect Earth's
biosphere near the planetary surface. One fertile area for investigation
would be to examine the charging effects of these solar winds on Earth's
atmosphere, which could alter electromagnetic energy in the troposphere
along weather fronts.
Since so little is known, feel free to post fragments, tidbits and data
as responses onto this topic.
- prepared by David Yarrow, the turtle, for SOLSTICE magazine
***** SOLSTICE: Perspectives on Health and Environment, is published
bimonthly at 201 E. Main St Suite H, Charlottesville, VA 22901 804-979-4427
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