Abstract
INVESTIGATIONS by Trömholt1, Chant2, Johnson3 and myself4 have produced evidence which points to the existence of sounds of a hissing, swishing or crackling nature associated with brilliant displays of the aurora. Evidence has also been presented which suggests the existence of luminous effects at low levels accompanying occasional displays. In explanation of these phenomena, the hypothesis has been advanced that there is sometimes present, during auroral displays, an unusual electrical condition of the atmosphere which results in an electrostatic discharge close to the earth's surface. Such a discharge, if real, is probably of a secondary nature induced in some way by processes which take place at great heights5 and are responsible for the more conspicuous and familiar aspects of the aurora as investigated by Stormer and his collaborators.
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NATURE, 32, 499, Sept. 24, 1885.
J. Roy. Astro. Soc. Canada, 17, 273; 1923.
"Concerning the Aurora Borealis” (printed privately).
J. Roy. Met. Soc., 59, 71; 1933: J. Roy. Astro. Soc. Canada, 27, 184; 1933.
A somewhat similar suggestion was made by Stormer in 1927 to account for an observation made by Jelstrup, NATURE, 119, 45, Jan. 8, 1927.
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BEALS, C. Low Auroras and Terrestrial Discharges. Nature 132, 245 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/132245b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/132245b0
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