They uncover the mystery of the white spots of the northern lights and reveal their true complexity

Admin3 days ago

0 2 2 minutes read

They uncover the mystery of the white spots of the northern lights and reveal their true complexity

Researchers have discovered new complexities within the northern lights, revealing dynamic emissions linked to heat sources.

For centuries, the northern lights, also known as the northern lights, have dazzled sky watchers with their dancing colors. But a mysterious whitish and grayish stain that sometimes appears next to lights has baffled scientists for decades, until now.

Researchers from the University of Calgary have explained this phenomenon for the first time, revealing that it is related to a heat source within the aurora. The findings, published in Nature Communicationsthey suggest that The aurora is even more complex than previously believed.

“You were seeing this dynamic green aurora, you were seeing some of the red aurora in the background, and all of a sudden you were seeing this structured emission, almost like a patch, of gray or white tones connected to the aurora“explained Dr. Emma Spanswick , lead author of the study and professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UCalgary. “So any scientist’s first response is, ‘Well, what is that?'”

New tools, new discoveries

The Spanswick team discovered the spot, known as structured continuous broadcastthanks to advances in digital photography and camera technology.

“Now your mobile phone can take pictures of the aurora,” Spanswick added. “That has been carried over to the commercial sensor market… those types of sensors can now be find in more robust tools that we use in science”.

His research is based on the renewed interest in auroral phenomena caused by the discovery of STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement)a bright ribbon of violet light occasionally seen in the sky.

The study has highlighted how advances in imaging technology have shed light on the intricate structures of the northern lights.

“There are similarities between what we’re seeing now and STEVE,” Spanswick added. “But although STEVE is a separate band crossing the sky, this structured emission is embedded in the aurora itself, making it more difficult to detect”.

The study was funded by the Transition Region Explorer (TREx)a University of Calgary initiative funded by the Canadian Space Agency and other partners. And it was this project’s instruments that allowed researchers to capture the fine details of the auroral emission.

However, the discovery means that scientists are one step closer to fully understanding the dazzling spectacle of the Northern Lights.