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. ============================================================= 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 --- Patt Haring | United Nations | Did u read patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | misc.headlines.unitex patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | today? -=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-