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  • AURORA BOREALIS: Nature's Dancing Lights

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    Fadhila Salsabila
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    The document discusses the aurora borealis or northern lights. It begins by explaining the name and origins of the phenomenon, noting that it was first recorded in southwestern France and fascinates many northern cultures. It then provides a brief history, explaining that medieval people saw it as an ominous sign, while explorer Fridtjof Nansen made drawings of the lights. The document outlines when auroras typically occur, explaining that it is a solar phenomenon connected to the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere. It describes how the solar wind interacts with the magnetosphere, morphing the magnetic field and forming auroras as energy dissipates in the upper atmosphere. Auroras generally appear within the aurora oval between 65-75 degrees

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    Fenomena alam, yang terjadi alami

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    Aurora borealis

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    The document discusses the aurora borealis or northern lights. It begins by explaining the name and origins of the phenomenon, noting that it was first recorded in southwestern France and fascinates many northern cultures. It then provides a brief history, explaining that medieval people saw it as an ominous sign, while explorer Fridtjof Nansen made drawings of the lights. The document outlines when auroras typically occur, explaining that it is a solar phenomenon connected to the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere. It describes how the solar wind interacts with the magnetosphere, morphing the magnetic field and forming auroras as energy dissipates in the upper atmosphere. Auroras generally appear within the aurora oval between 65-75 degrees

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    110 views19 pages

    AURORA BOREALIS: Nature's Dancing Lights

    Uploaded by

    Fadhila Salsabila
    The document discusses the aurora borealis or northern lights. It begins by explaining the name and origins of the phenomenon, noting that it was first recorded in southwestern France and fascinates many northern cultures. It then provides a brief history, explaining that medieval people saw it as an ominous sign, while explorer Fridtjof Nansen made drawings of the lights. The document outlines when auroras typically occur, explaining that it is a solar phenomenon connected to the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere. It describes how the solar wind interacts with the magnetosphere, morphing the magnetic field and forming auroras as energy dissipates in the upper atmosphere. Auroras generally appear within the aurora oval between 65-75 degrees

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 19

    AURORA BOREALIS

    Fadhila Salsabila

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    Name and Origins


    History
    Northern Light Times
    Morphing the Magnetic Field
    Forming of Auroras
    The Aurora Oval
    Aurora Forms
    Dancing Colours
    Sources

    Conten
    t

    Name and Origins

    Name: Aurora Borealis Latin for Northern


    Dawn
    One of the most impressive natural phenomena
    First recorded incident: La Caverne de
    Lascaux SW France
    Fascinates and terrifies humans
    Aurora Legends: Every northern culture has oral
    legends about the aurora, passed down for
    generations

    Medieval
    Age
    People believed
    that the polar
    light is a bad
    omen
    Fearing the red
    light
    Especially while
    it is very rare in
    Middle Europe
    The aurora was
    for example
    described as
    heaven battles
    or as candles

    Fridtjof Nansen

    This Norwegian polar explorer tried to reach the north


    pole with his ship Fram in 1895-96

    He was blocked by ice but made many woodcuts and


    drawings about the aurora

    Fridtjof Nansen 1861-1930


    Image source: gedds.pfrr.alaska.edu

    Image source: gedds.pfrr.alaska.edu

    Northern
    Light
    Times
    Solar

    phenomenon in
    the Ionosphere
    Occurs while
    periods of high
    solar activity
    80-200km
    above ground
    connected to
    the
    magnetosphere

    Solar
    Winds

    Solar winds are caused by


    energy released by the sun
    Extension of Suns corona
    High speed plasma

    A long way towards earth

    Interactions with the Ionosphere solar wind


    (speed 450km/h) carries a weak magnetic
    field
    Interaction between this and the magnetic
    field of earth
    Changes form of the earths magnetosphere
    energy dissipates into gaseous form, causing
    Auroras or stays in electric form
    Dangers: Interrupting satellite transmissions /
    power grids

    Morphing the magnetic field


    earth has a magnetosphere surrounding the planet
    solar wind flowing past the earth
    solar wind and the magnetosphere are two electrically
    conducting fluids with magnetic fields
    plasma and atoms collide
    energy flow causes a change in magnetic field

    Image Source:
    http://odin.gi.alaska.edu/FAQ/

    Magnetosphere

    Earth has a dipole magnetic field similar to a bar magnet

    Invisible magnetic field lines entering at the north pole, exiting at


    the south pole

    periods of high solar activity interaction between the solar wind


    and magnetosphere

    solar winds effect the comet shape


    Bare Magnet

    Image source: gedds.pfrr.alaska.edu

    Image source: wikipedia.com

    Forming of Auroras

    Repeat: solar wind collides with atoms of the


    upper atmosphere
    Altitudes of 80-200km
    Frequency usually follows the 11-year sunspot
    maximum cycle.
    Peak 3 years after the peak of the sunspot cycle.

    The Aurora Oval


    1.

    2.

    3.

    4.

    5.

    The aurora is often


    visible at high
    latitudes
    Magnetic field
    pressure is
    strongest
    Most often: Oval
    located between 65
    and 75 degrees
    latitude
    Oval ranges from
    500 to 1500 km in
    width
    Zone statistically
    defined

    A aurora seen from space

    Nasa

    Where the aurora can be seen

    Number of nights per


    year aurora can be
    seen at certain
    locations
    Northern Norway:
    100 nights each per
    year
    Rest of Norway:
    10 nights every year
    Middle Europe:
    1 to 0,1 nights each
    years

    http://gedds.pfrr.alaska.edu/aurora/Images/w1.jpg

    Simple aurora structure elements

    Complex formations
    Complex formations out of the shown
    elements:
    Curl
    Curtain
    Omega band
    Corona
    Pulsating aurora

    Combinations are also possible

    Why colourfull?

    High-speed discharge
    electrons collide with
    atoms and molecules in
    the upper atmosphere
    Different kinds of atoms
    and molecules produce
    different colours of lights
    Emissions between 100
    and 300 km altitude

    >500km:
    Hydrogen and Helium atoms take
    over
    200-500km:
    Oxygen atoms green / brownishred
    brightest single line emission of the
    aurora
    100-200km:
    Nitrogen molecules blue / red
    blue/purple border
    Green line emission (oxygen) is
    quenched at this altitude
    The color of light emitted depends on
    the wavelength of
    a photon: visible light ~400-700
    nanometers (blue-red)

    Dancing
    Colours

    Auroras on other planets

    Planets with magnetic fields have


    Auroras
    Jupiter, Saturn have highest
    concentrations
    Caused by Solar Winds
    NASA image of Jupiter aurora in UV,
    Hubble Space Telescope:

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