Posted on 04/25/2009 9:07:00 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
DIFFERENT CULTURES have attributed their spectacular light show to fire-breathing dragons, dancing gods and ghostly clans at war.
New research, however, has found that the northern lights, or aurora borealis, are powered by giant electrical tornadoes spinning at more than a million miles an hour and stretching thousands of miles into space.
Scientists used a set of five satellites designed to measure the Earth’s magnetic field to generate the first images of the whirling vortices.
They show how vast quantities of charged particles emitted by the sun first pile up in huge clouds about 40,000 miles above the night side of Earth. Then, as the energy they hold becomes too great, the particles explode downwards towards Earth, spinning as they go.
“When these space tornadoes reach the upper atmosphere their enormous energy heats the air so strongly it starts glowing. That is what generates the aurorae,” said Professor Karl-Heinz Glassmeier, director of the Institute for Geophysics and Extraterrestrial Physics in Braunschweig, Germany.
The northern lights and their southern equivalent, the aurora australis, create spectacular moving displays of different shades and colours of light.
Usually these can only be seen in extreme northern or southern latitudes, but sometimes, when the sun is particularly active, they become much larger. Occasionally they can be seen from Scotland.
Humans have attempted many explanations for the aurorae. Russian folklore linked them with mythical fire dragons, said to assume human form to seduce women in the absence of their husbands. Early Chinese dragon myths are said to have originated from them, while ancient Britons saw the lights as clans fighting past battles.
More recently, they inspired Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights novel, where the aurorae were depicted as potential gateways between different worlds.
Scientists, however, have long known that the aurorae are generated
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
If you want on or off the Electric Universe Ping List, Freepmail me.
yitbos
Viewing the Northern Lights contributes to global warming.
I sure would hate to be using that outhouse in that weather.
Do they have auroras on uranus?
This is so interesting. Thanks for posting!
Do "vast quantities of charged particles emitted by the sun [that] first pile up in huge clouds about 40,000 miles above the night side of Earth" cause lightning?
yitbos
The video shows no hint of any kind of vorticity, but I guess that we are supposed to understand that the ions spiral along the magnetic lines, conjuring the image of a tornado. What it does show is the tail of the magnetosphere folding in on itself until it pinches, as indicated by a blinding flash ( wouldn't that be something to see ) which is pure dramatization. Presumably this pinch is what herds the particles along the lines towards the auroral regions, and consitutes the "secret". I personally think it's a pretty crappy video, with very little in it that goes towards illustrating the scientific finding.
Hawaii volcanic eruption with lightning and waterspouts.VIDEO
“From the smallest particle to the largest galactic formation, a web of electrical circuitry connects and unifies all of nature, organizing galaxies, energizing stars, giving birth to planets and, on our own world, controlling weather and animating biological organisms. There are no isolated islands in an electric universe”.
Jupiter Aurora
Does the aurora occur on other planets? The answer is yes! The Earth is not the only planet in the solar system on which auroras may be seen. Auroras may also be seen on the gas giants, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Cool!
Pulling guard duty at Ft. Wainwright (adjacent to Fairbanks) was a surreal experience when the light show was in progress (often). During the winter especially. Add it to the phenomenon of all the arctic hare eyes reflecting off the jeep headlights, and it was like being on another planet.
I often find Klingons.
You might find some here too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNTVzwjEyb4&feature=PlayList&p=22EFC37FCE16E7AD&index=0&playnext=1
ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
