(《地球科学概论》)aurora_article_3.pdf

The Aurora Borealis The Northern Lights - What were those strange quivering lights in the north- ern sky that both fascinated and frightened people on earth for millennia? A Norwegian scientist led the way toward finally answering that question. By Pål Brekke Aurora over Ersfjord at Kvaløya outside Tromsø (Copyrighted: B.Jørgensen www.arcticphoto.no) Aurora over Ersfjord at Kvaløya outside Tromsø (B.Jørgensen) For thousands of years people Every northern culture has oral legends about the aurora, passed down for generations. Dur- in the northern part of the ing the viking period, northern lights were world have marveled at the referred to as reflections from dead maidens. spectacular and fearful dis- The phenomenon was often referred to as a vengeful force. In ancient times, most people plays that occasionally light were afraid of the lights. Some people would up the night sky. There have been hundreds of stories and theo- ries to explain these celestial lights what we now know as the aurora borealis or northern lights. But no one until about a century ago, suspected a connection with the sun. To be lucky enough to see the aurora is in- deed a beautiful experience. as the well- known austrian explorer Julius von Payer (1841-1915) once put it: “No pencil can draw it, no colors can paint it, and no words can A drawing of northern lights made during a French expedition to Alta in 1838-39. The artist describe it in all its magnificence.” was participating as an