Auroræ: Their Characters and SpectraCapron, J. Rand
History
Auroræ: Their Characters and Spectra
Capron, J. Rand
Auroras
February 19th. Meteorological Report. _Discovery Bay._—9.45 P.M. An
Aurora like a fluted arch, with rays flashing towards the Pole, was
observed spanning the hills from the south to the east. The direction of
the lines of light from all parts of the arch was towards the zenith.
Above the arch a pale band of colour appeared, like a secondary arch
above the other. It appeared very much as if it was caused by the
reflected light of the Aurora. The Aurora was bright for a few seconds,
and then gradually died away. It lasted altogether about 30 minutes.
The centre of the arch bore S.E., having an altitude of about 30°. The
secondary arch was about 15° above the former. Both arches were of a pale
light colour, the upper one very faint. Temperature -34°. Barometer
29·87 inches, rising rapidly. Weather calm. Misty. No clouds.
Lieut. Parr. _Floeberg Beach._—An Aurora appeared shortly after 11
P.M., consisting of bright arch, whose centre bore about E.S.E., and
had an altitude of about 5°, with a second broader and fainter arch
about 7° above the first. These arches maintained their altitudes, the
upper one at about the same intensity, but that of the lower one varied
considerably. It would gradually brighten up, then send streamers up to
the second, then break up into light patches, and gradually fade away.
This happened three or four times during the 40 minutes that the display
lasted. At times streamers would come up from the horizon to the lower
arch, for it was a splendidly clear night, and seemed to brighten it up,
but none of them extended beyond it. Neither did the streamers from the
lower arch extend beyond the upper one. It was slightly green in colour
when brightest, and the citron-line was well defined, but no others were
visible. Temperature -46°. Barometer 29·95 inches, steady. Weather calm.
Cumulus clouds 4. Misty.
TABLE of DATES when AURORAS were observed by the ARCTIC EXPEDITION,
1875-76.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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