Auroræ: Their Characters and SpectraCapron, J. Rand
History
Auroræ: Their Characters and Spectra
Capron, J. Rand
Auroras
1st. Two Auroral spectra. I agree in this, but question whether the
fainter lines may not possibly comprise more than one spectrum.
2nd. I agree also that the bright yellow-green line falls, as Professor
Ångström describes, just behind the second line in the hydrocarbon yellow
group (see Plate V. fig. 7). And I find, in common with the Professor, no
well-marked or prominent line in the air-spectrum with which it accords.
3rd. This may be conveniently divided into two parts, viz.:—
A. The proposition that “moisture in the region of the Aurora must be
regarded as _nil_.”
[Sidenote: Moisture probably not _nil_ in the Aurora region. Reasons for
this given. Aurora in vapour or mist. Frequently near to earth’s surface.]
Here I see reason to differ, since (to quote a letter of Mr. Procter’s)
“the vapour-density of OH₂ is only 9 against 14 for N and 16 for O;” and
again, “electrical or heat-repulsion may carry water-dust up to enormous
heights.” There are, too, I think, circumstances connected with the
Aurora itself which make the assumption of moisture being _nil_ in the
Auroral regions untenable. The first of these is the fact that the white
arc, streamers, and floating patches of light, found in some Auroræ,
have frequently the peculiarly dense and solid look of vapour-clouds—a
circumstance with which I have been frequently struck. Mr. Procter and
others have also remarked that the Aurora is generally formed in a sort
of “mist or imperfect vapour.” The second, that Auroræ, or portions of
them, are frequently near to the earth’s surface. Instances of this are
given in the section on the Height of the Aurora, notably the experiences
of Sir W. Grove and Mr. W. Ladd.
[Sidenote: Coincidence of Auroral lines with telluric solar lines.]
On this point, too, note the peculiarities of the red line, which (and,
as I find, the green line also) are coincident with, or very close
to, telluric bands or groups of lines in the solar spectrum usually
attributed to moisture. (See Plate XIII. fig. 2.)
[Sidenote: Continuous spectrum.]
I think we may also claim the continuous spectrum in the Aurora in
further proof of water-vapour (see Plate XV. spectrum 7). The continuous
spectrum of the Aurora is also, to my observation, more local and dense
in the spectroscope than the glow generally seen between the lines or
bands in gas-spectra.
[Sidenote: Violet-pole spectrum discussed. Most spectra have a general as
well as special character.]
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