Enigmatic Rupture in Earth’s Magnetic Field Caused New Type of Aurora, NASA Scientist Reveals
From Sputniknews.com
The colourful lights adorning the skies at the North and South Poles have always been thought of as being the result of solar particles sneaking through the magnetic field of our planet and colliding with gases in the atmosphere. However, the aurora borealis spotted three years ago over the Arctic was caused by something else.
NASA intern Jennifer Briggs, studying physics at Pepperdine University, has discovered a new type of polar lights, or auroras, that was caused solely by a crunch in the Earth’s magnetic field. The physicist noticed an anomaly when studying footage filmed from an island in Norway three years ago and satellite data with the help of NASA scientists, The Business Insider reports.
This aurora borealis did not have energised particles from the sun dance colliding with atmospheric gases thereby producing the magic-looking lights, like other phenomena of the kind. When it was spotted, the sun was not showing any heightened activity, for example, eruptions. This made them conclude that the lights were caused by a mysterious compression of the Earth’s magnetic field, shrinking suddenly and rapidly.
“The really fascinating thing is that nothing came from the sun to smash into it”, Briggs noted.
What prompted this “massive, but localised compression”, which looked like something punched the magnetic field, is unclear. The edge of the bubble rushed towards the Earth by about 25,000 kilometres, taking just 1 minute and 45 seconds.
The researchers suggested that there might have been an unprecedented storm in the area where the solar particles sneak through our protective bubble, the magnetosphere. What caused the storm is not known.
“This motion is something that we’ve never seen before. This eastward and then westward and then spiralling motion is not something that we’ve ever seen, not something we currently understand”, Briggs said.
Carol graduated from Riverside White Cross School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio and received her diploma as a registered nurse. She attended Bowling Green State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Literature. She attended the University of Toledo, College of Nursing, and received a Master’s of Nursing Science Degree as an Educator.
She has traveled extensively, is a photographer, and writes on medical issues. Carol has three children RJ, Katherine, and Stephen – one daughter-in-law; Katie – two granddaughters; Isabella Marianna and Zoe Olivia – and one grandson, Alexander Paul. She also shares her life with her husband Gordon Duff, many cats, and two rescues.
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I like that second photo. Surfing under the aurora! Stoked for that.
Seems like one more reason we are screwed! Is this why our rulers are under the ground?
This article sort of points out how the earths magnetic field plays a part in how our climate can be affected. It described how our magnetic field seemed like it was punched but not from the sun. I have said on this and other sites how the earths magnetic fields wane and ebb like a tide and also a weakening of the field caused by our core slowing. This in turn weakens the magnetic field that then allows more solar particles and energy to enter our atmosphere playing havoc with our weather patterns.
I’ve seen aurora borealis many times, when worked in the North. One of the most beautiful thing to see on our planet.
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