The Northern Lights: illuminating near-Earth Space

The beauty of the Northern Lights has been chronicled for centuries, but new research at the University of Leicester offers insight into the science behind the spectacle.

Dr Suzanne Imber’s inaugural lecture will present the findings of her doctoral study on the interaction between the solar wind and the near-earth environment.

The lecture will take place at 5.30pm on Wednesday 26th May in the Ken Edwards Lecture Theatre 3 at the University of Leicester.

Dr Imber’s research examines how the solar wind imparts energy and momentum to the magnetosphere of the Earth via a process called magnetic reconnection. This theory is responsible not only for the aurora, but also for large space weather events which have a significant impact on near-Earth space.

The Radio and Space Plasma Physics group at the University of Leicester have designed and built many radars in an international collaboration known as SuperDARN. These radars are located at very high latitudes and measure the stirring of plasma in the ionosphere which provides information about reconnection taking place tens of thousands of kilometres away from the Earth. Solar wind plasma gains entry to the magnetosphere via this process and precipitates into the upper atmosphere generating the aurora.

Dr Imber will present findings from the radars which have identified a new solar-wind/magnetosphere coupling geometry called dual lobe reconnection. She commented:

“The work to be presented at the lecture began with identifying the expected signatures of dual lobe reconnection both in radar and spacecraft data. When these signatures had been determined, an extensive data search was carried out and the first observational evidence of this process was identified.

“Solar wind-magnetosphere coupling doesn't just produce the beautiful spectacle of the aurora, it can also have significant societal impacts. Large space weather events have led to power outages on a massive scale, loss of near-Earth spacecraft and loss of gps and other communications systems.”

Provided by University of Leicester