@sdoownekI spent a winter in the wilderness in Alaska (35 miles north of Tanana). I did hear the northern lights once. The "swoosh"-sound perfectly matched with the movements of the lights. On this website you find theories about how this could happen:<a class="user" href="http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f00/web3/gallagher3.html">http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f00/web3/gallagher3.html</a>"Observers claim to hear sound when northern lights appear. The height of the northern lights is 80-130 km above the Earth, in an environment which is almost a vacuum, making it impossible for the sounds to come directly from the auroras. There are several theories regarding this. One theory is that the sound may be coming from discharges in the electrical fields on Earth which occur during an aurora. Another theory is that the electromagnetic energy produced could cause vibrations in certain objects, such as frozen pine needles or loose hair, causing the hissing, swishing or crackling noises heard by spectators. In a laboratory, it was tested that even wearing a pair of glasses could raise ones threshold by 3 or 4 decibels. There is even a theory that the sound is merely a psychological reaction"(Sorry for my English I'm Swiss)
@sdoownekYou can't hear them directly, but you certainly can hear them. The sound may not travel, but the electricity created by them does. when is hits the atmosphere, it creates sound. I can tell you've never seen a good show of the northern lights :)
@sdoownekI spent the winter there together with a friend from school. A friend from Tanana gave us 15 sled dogs, two sleds and let us use his trap line cabin. I did it because I wanted to experience the beauty of an Alaskan winter. We spent a great time out there in the silence. Sorry, but I just happen to believe in this theory:"Another theory is that the electromagnetic energy produced could cause vibrations in certain objects, such as frozen pine needles or loose hair, causing the hissing, swishing or crackling noises heard by spectators."Before I heard it the first and only time, I didn't know that other people did claim that northern lights can be heard. I believe that hearing northern lights has a very low probability. But why should it be impossible if your standing at the right spot and all the factors are right?
I can't and will never understand the fascination people have with the northern lights, okay they are really beautiful to rest your eyes on now and again just as a nice sunset but when when you see them 20+ times every winter it sort of looses it's charm.Really nice pictures though.And to those wondering if it's true that you can hear the northern lights, it's true.They have a sort of crackling sound, really soothing to fall a sleep to when your lying cuddled up in your sleeping bag.
elck03Dec 5, 2006
surreal
justconnorDec 5, 2006
Gotta love good photography. it takes more than just the lights to make these good photos, the guy has skill.
techgnosticDec 5, 2006
I think this could indeed be considered a "phenomenon." Look it up.<a class="user" href="http://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Aphenomenon">http://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Aphenomenon</a>*any state or process known through the senses rather than by intuition or reasoning* a remarkable development * an observable event, especially something specialI suppose if you think it is unremarkable, then perhaps your right.
piusDec 5, 2006
@sdoownekI spent a winter in the wilderness in Alaska (35 miles north of Tanana). I did hear the northern lights once. The "swoosh"-sound perfectly matched with the movements of the lights. On this website you find theories about how this could happen:<a class="user" href="http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f00/web3/gallagher3.html">http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f00/web3/gallagher3.html</a>"Observers claim to hear sound when northern lights appear. The height of the northern lights is 80-130 km above the Earth, in an environment which is almost a vacuum, making it impossible for the sounds to come directly from the auroras. There are several theories regarding this. One theory is that the sound may be coming from discharges in the electrical fields on Earth which occur during an aurora. Another theory is that the electromagnetic energy produced could cause vibrations in certain objects, such as frozen pine needles or loose hair, causing the hissing, swishing or crackling noises heard by spectators. In a laboratory, it was tested that even wearing a pair of glasses could raise ones threshold by 3 or 4 decibels. There is even a theory that the sound is merely a psychological reaction"(Sorry for my English I'm Swiss)
patrickfisherDec 5, 2006
@sdoownekYou can't hear them directly, but you certainly can hear them. The sound may not travel, but the electricity created by them does. when is hits the atmosphere, it creates sound. I can tell you've never seen a good show of the northern lights :)
mrzrbDec 5, 2006
Absolutely Gorgeous
piusDec 5, 2006
@sdoownekI spent the winter there together with a friend from school. A friend from Tanana gave us 15 sled dogs, two sleds and let us use his trap line cabin. I did it because I wanted to experience the beauty of an Alaskan winter. We spent a great time out there in the silence. Sorry, but I just happen to believe in this theory:"Another theory is that the electromagnetic energy produced could cause vibrations in certain objects, such as frozen pine needles or loose hair, causing the hissing, swishing or crackling noises heard by spectators."Before I heard it the first and only time, I didn't know that other people did claim that northern lights can be heard. I believe that hearing northern lights has a very low probability. But why should it be impossible if your standing at the right spot and all the factors are right?
winbladeDec 6, 2006
I can't and will never understand the fascination people have with the northern lights, okay they are really beautiful to rest your eyes on now and again just as a nice sunset but when when you see them 20+ times every winter it sort of looses it's charm.Really nice pictures though.And to those wondering if it's true that you can hear the northern lights, it's true.They have a sort of crackling sound, really soothing to fall a sleep to when your lying cuddled up in your sleeping bag.
dextermanasDec 6, 2006
Can't someone just take a video of it and show that the aurora does indeed make sounds?