Northern Lights Mystery Solved Scientists Reveal Surprising Heat Source
The Northern Lights, also referred to as aurora borealis, have held the world by its spell long enough. Long known to work on the simplest principles of colorful lights, an interesting mystery involving these lights is now discovered—a “structured continuum emission.” For the first time, researchers explained what it looks like and why it appears; this whitish or greyish patch sometimes appears along with the aurora.
What’s the Mystery?
For many years, scientists have observed a whitish or gray patch that shows up in the visual spectrum along with the aurora. This phenomenon had been noticed before, but nobody could explain it. Dr. Emma Spanswick, a scientist at the University of Calgary, led a team of researchers in this investigation. Their research findings, published in Nature Communications, reveal that the patch is a heat source connected to the aurora itself.
In simpler words, the aurora borealis is more complicated than we believed. The scientists have found that this source of heat is a “structured continuum emission,” and it connects with the aurora, giving the northern lights even more vivid colors.
How Was It Discovered?
The breakthrough in understanding came by virtue of improved camera technologies. Recent developments of cameras and sensors helped scientists and amateur photographers to capture true-color images of the night sky. This enabled Dr. Spanswick’s team to view more detail on the aurora, making it possible for them to trace the heat source.
As Dr. Spanswick says, “Everyone has noticed the advancement in digital photography. Your cellphone can now take pictures of the aurora.” The newly discovered heat patch has been facilitated to be more accessible and understood due to such improvement in technology.
Linking New Discoveries with Past Research:
The work of the research team is also connected to another exciting discovery: STEVE, or Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement. STEVE is a long, glowing ribbon of purple light that is separate from the aurora. It is interesting to note that this new heat source appears in a way similar to STEVE but is directly connected to the aurora. Such a connection would help scientists understand better the relationship between these phenomena.
The Role of Students in the Research:
The most interesting aspect of this study is the collaboration of students from the University of Calgary. Among them is Josh Houghton, an undergraduate intern who participated in the research. His efforts were useful for data analysis and helped him find his way to be included in the published paper-a rare phenomenon for an undergraduate. Houghton will pursue the topic for his honors thesis and then further into his master’s degree.
What’s Next?
This project is a result of collaboration between the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Government of Alberta, and the Canadian Space Agency. The research has been made possible by the Transition Region Explorer, or TREx. Thanks to this project and the advanced technology it uses, scientists have a better understanding of the forces at work behind the aurora borealis.
The discovery of the aurora-related hidden heat source is just the beginning. More advances in technology will allow the study of northern lights to become more detailed with even greater secrets revealed. So, the next time you see the beauty of the aurora, you’ll know that there is more than what seems visible.
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