however, it is weakest at either pole and so the particles are able to come into contact with the Earth’s
atmosphere in these areas. The northern lights are
the result of the sun coming into contact with gases
in our atmosphere like nitrogen and oxygen. When
scientists first began studying the northern lights they
tracked solar wind and flares to determine when and
where northern lights would occur. These methods
are still used today.
While scienc e can explain the cause, there are still
questions surrounding the lights that remain today.
One of them is “Do the northern lights make sound?”
There is little evidence to back this up, but many
stories and people in recent times have reported
hearing snapping, swishing, and crackling sounds
during a sighting of the northern lights. Some people
believe that the noises may simply be the wind, or
perhaps the shifting of the ice and snow nearby.
Conclusion
There are countless myths, stories, and songs that
attempt to explain the northern lights that shine in the
sky. The real scientific answer is perhaps less interesting
and entertaining than the folk tales, especially the more
imaginative ones. The different people attempting to
explain what they saw in the sky spanned countries and
continents. However, they all shared the same goal of
deciphering the mysterious lights they saw in the sky,
just like I did as a child many years ago.
Many of the stories involving northern lights were
passed down orally, and it’s possible that many of them
have been lost forever. The stories of the folklore allow
us a glimpse into the life and culture of the creators of
the stories. The legends reflect the values they carried
and upheld in their societies: some honoured the
dead, while others feared the northern lights and the
unknown. However old the story, the northern lights
have outlived them all and their ethereal glow will
outlive us and our stories as well.
Tips for viewing the northern lights
Choose the right location.
Choose a location outside of a city, with minimal
light pollution: ideally, dark skies with as much
of the sky visible as possible. Be in a northern
region. The northern lights are best viewed in
higher latitudes.
Be out between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
At times the northern lights can be seen from
dark until dawn, but the best time to see them is
close to midnight.
Observe Space Weather.
You can monitor x-ray solar flares (which cause
the northern lights) and other space patterns at
spaceweather.com.
Keep warm.
The last thing you want is to be forced to head
back before you see anything spectacular simply
because you didn’t wear those extra mittens. Be
prepared for frosty temperatures; dress warmly
and bring some hot liquids along.
Bring a camera.
If you are fortunate you will have the opportunity
to take some great photos to remember the
breathtaking northern lights.
Born and raised in Vancouver BC, Anne Marie Scanlon
grew up with a love of nature and all things Canadian.
She is a recent graduate with honours from the University of Guelph in Ontario with degrees in English and
Art History. To date, she has only traveled as far north
as Fort McMurray Alberta, but hopes to venture further
north in the future.
Forager 2 Fall 2015
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