SPOTLESS SUN SPARKS PINK AURORAS
On Feb. 23rd the sun was completely blank (no sunspots) and NOAA classified solar activity as "very low." Nevertheless, this happened:
"Despite the blank sun, we witnessed a beautiful display of auroras," reports photographer Andrei Andritcu from Tromso, Norway. In addition to the usual green, the lights contained a splash of pink.
In auroras, pink is a sign of nitrogen. Ordinary green auroras are caused by energetic particles from space hitting oxygen atoms 100 km to 300 km above Earth's surface. Pink appears when the energetic particles descend lower than usual, striking nitrogen molecules at the 100 km level and below.
Recent displays of pink and white auroras have coincided with spotless suns often enough to make observers wonder if there is a connection. E.g. perhaps solar wind emerging from the spotless sun is unusually penetrating. If so, we can expect to see more nitrogenous auroras in the years ahead. The sun is descending into a deep Solar Minimum, and the nadir could be colored pink.
RARE HAWAIIAN LIGHT PILLAR
Frankie Lucena of Puerto Rico frequently scans the automated Gemini webcam on Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano, looking for sprites and other forms of exotic lightning. On Feb. 13th he saw something--but it wasn't lightning. "It was a rare Hawaiian light pillar," he says. Here is one frame from the complete video:
Light pillars appear when urban lights reflect from the flat faces of ice crystals fluttering down from high freezing clouds. The source of the crystals, in this case, was probably a bank of altostratus/cumulus clouds shown in the video. "I do not recall seeing examples of these pillars so far south or in a location like Hawaii," says atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley. "So these are very rare indeed."
Comment: The quieting Sun means Earth's own fields are becoming weaker meaning more particles can move further into our atmosphere, as well as more cosmic rays, so these 'rare' sights are becoming increasingly common, as well as some never seen before phenomena:
- New atmospheric phenomenon discovered by SWARM satellites
- Solar minimum is upon us and 20 years of data shows other stars are exhibiting similar signs
- Scientists predict upsurge in major earthquakes for 2018 due to slowdown in Earth's rotation
- Ice age on the way: Gulf Stream is slowing down faster than ever, scientists say
- Rare blue auroras seen in the Arctic Circle
- Incredible aurora phenomenon captured over Washington and Alberta
- Rare pink auroras sparked by spotless Sun's solar wind
- Revision to 400-year sunspot record makes current solar cycle weakest in 200 years
- Rare red sprites in action: Mysterious electric tendrils lighting up the sky over Oklahoma filmed
- 'Strange' Arctic rainbow and red 'summer' sprites in winter - rare atmospheric events on the increase
- Lament for Babylon
Check out SOTT radio's: Behind the Headlines: Earth changes in an electric universe: Is climate change really man-made?