Do You Know Your Boreal?

Photo by Ron Marceau

Northern Lights [p. 268-279 in Mother Earth]

Latin: Aurora Borealis

French: aurores boréales

Beaver: yááwudyusbéhdze

Cree: nîmîhitotwâw acahkosak

When I was collaborating with Charlene Noskey for the Mother Earth book, she told me the Cree name for the Northern Lights is nîmîhitotwâw acahkosak, which means “dancing stars.”

It is, indeed, their dance that inspires me to lie on my back on the hill behind our house at ridiculous hours of the night mesmerized by their poetry in motion and waiting to see what moves they will perform next.

Photo by Ron Marceau

The sense of wonder leaves me in awe of the Great Creator. And this spiritual wonder leads me to wonder about the science. What has humankind discovered?

Here’s the fascinating finding I wrote on page 276 in Mother Earth:

“Laboratory measurements of the physics of auroral electron acceleration by Alfvén waves” is a study published in 2021. A group of physicists from Iowa State University have proven that the “most brilliant auroras are produced by powerful electromagnetic waves during geomagnetic storms.” Alfvén waves accelerate electrons toward Earth, causing the particles to produce light. The theory was first introduced in 1946 by a Russian physicist, Lev Landau.

Photo by Stuart Barr

In this 2021 study, scientists used a 20-metre-long chamber to recreate Earth’s magnetic field using the powerful magnetic field coils on UCLA’s Large Plasma Device. Using a specially designed antenna, they launched Alfvén waves down the machine and used another specialized instrument to measure how those electrons were gaining energy from the wave.

Although they didn’t create a light show like we see dancing over the Peace Country from time to time, they proved that electrons surfing on Alfvén waves can be accelerated up to speeds of 45 million miles per hour, causing the aurora.

I’ve often pondered...

What inspires the northern lights to dance in the heavens above this jewel of a planet in the vast eternal universe?

Now I imagine one adventurous electron whispering to his buddies, “Hey! The Alfvén waves are rollin’ tonight...Surf’s up! Time to try some new moves!”

And they all shout, “Yessss!!! Showtime!”

Photo by Ron Marceau

My sincere thanks to Stuart Barr and Ron Marceau for the many hours they have dedicated to capturing images of spectacular Peace Country dances.

In the next issue, we’ll look at star trails and the celestial phenomenon called S.T.E.V.E.

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To see the music video/slideshow “Come by the Hills” by Peace Country musicians and photographers, go to MotherEarthBook.ca.

To see over 1,200 photos of boreal wonders, you can purchase a Mother Earth book (below) or ask to see the copy donated to your local library. If they don’t have one, ask them to contact me.

For more information contact: Sharon Krushel at 780-625-6324 or email krushel@mac.com

At MotherEarthBook.ca, you can order the 288-page coffee table book, or find a retail outlet in Fort Vermilion, Grimshaw, Fairview, Manning, Peace River, Beaverlodge or Grande Prairie.

For a personalized autograph or bulk purchase, contact Sharon.

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Instagram: MotherEarthBook_PeaceRiver

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By Sharon Krushel, author of Mother Earth: Boreal Beauty of the Peace Country

with Flora, Fauna, & Fungi ID, including Latin, French, Beaver & Cree