The Fractal Aurora/Airglow Dance Observation during the Partial Solar Eclipse of 1st Aug 2008 at Visakhapatnam(India)

by Professor Kotcherlakota Lakshmi Narayana
Dated: 1st August 2008
ABSTRACT
The concept and observation by me of Fractal Aurora/Airglow has been presented giving details of the occurrence of partial Solar Eclipse of 1st August 2008 at Visakhaptanm. Schematic diagrams, pictures are given to depict the model and observations made during the period of eclipse from Noon to the Sun set. Categorizations of Airglow/Aurora Borealis and spectral features specific to the 1st August 2008 Solar Eclipse have been explained. Significant findings and conclusions drawn are enumerated. The Heat Islands of Visakhapatnam are very significant for Airglow studies.
Interpretation of Fractal Aurora/Airglow of 1st August 2008 in terms of Julia Set, like that of a necklace, would a simple and easy way to describe the occurrence of the day glow at Visakhapatnam. But the deeper look into at the event would reveal the need of a sophisticated theoretical model to explain the mechanism. The author’s model and views giving these details would be given in a later blogspot post at this site.
Key Words:
Aurora Borealis, Fractal Aurora/Airglow, spectral features, Visakhapatnam pollution, Volcanoes ash, Golden-Yellow Aurora, Suvarna, EUV, X-Ray, UV, Total Solar Eclipse, 1st August 2008
I. Introduction:
In 1937 Stomer [1] gave a theory of aurora borealis. Sun-lit aurora was observed in Norway in the night of March 22-23, 1920. After sunset and before sunrise the aurora rays, have a considerable higher position than in the middle of night. Violet-grey aurora appeared in September 8, 1926. The aurora extended from West horizon to the central North sky and disappeared at around 300-500Kms height. The ionized gas in aurora discharge of the ionosphere is in fact plasma. Plasma spectacular aurora borealis occurs due to energetic electrons etc precipitation to lower ad more dense layers of atmosphere that produce electrical discharges and light.
Sunlit aurora * with unusual color and scintillation occur near the regions where the sun had set suggesting that its positioned in upper atmosphere in full sun shine. Usually red aurora occurs at a height of 100Kms to 500 Kms. Absorption of UV light by ions around 100 to 300Kms makes the atmosphere electrically conducting. Excited molecules emit visible light aurora borealis. The solar-wind stream of photons and electrons compresses geomagnetic field causing fluctuations of strength of geomagnetic field and its configuration. [2].They are operative around 100 to 1000 Kms region very efficiently.
Instabilities of Van Allen radiation belt cause particle drifts and suppression to the lower dense atmosphere. Usually aurora is yellow- green and at considerable heights it is red in color. But at lower heights Orange color predominates. Oxygen red occurs at low pressures while Green atomic Oxygen at lower levels. Molecular Nitrogen produces red shade that extends over lower layers. Aurora spectra colors are a thumbprint of Atom and Molecules responsible for its origin.

Photochemical reactions involving Oxygen and Nitrogen occur at 80 to 110 Kms.The object of the present article is high light the studies made by the author on the aurora spectral display observed on the 1st August 2008 evening between 1.30PM to 7.00PM and especially during the total solar eclipse time of 4.03PM to 6.05PM. The solar eclipse was only partial at Visakhapatnam covering about 20% of the solar disk. An account of the energy transfer and an analysis of the possible flux of transfer events, pressure pulses and the instability features, due to interaction of ionosphere and thermosphere, that have occurred at the time of Total Solar Eclipse have been assessed to gain knowledge on the event of the partial solar eclipse at the coastal city of Andhra Pradesh. At 90km photochemistry is complex due to high pressure that prevails at these heights .Lyman-Alpha ionizes NO concentration of the ions being 1E+08 per cc or less at 70Kms.The EUV ionizes O molecules in the state O₂(¹Delta _g). Hard X-rays 0f 2-8 Angstroms ionize all constituents acting mainly on O₂ and N₂ Alkali metals provide emission by resonance scattering. Visible at twilight are several atoms and ions of Ca, Li, K, and Na. The gyro-frequencies for electrons and ions W _e and W _i are respectively 8.5E+06 and 250 rads/sec.

The vertical threshold of magnetic rigidity at latitude around 17 ⁰ sets the energy of probable impinging particles, from the sky is about 12.46 Giga Volts. Solar UV radiation heats up the atmosphere in 15 to 80Kms height. Upwelling motion (Hardley Circulation) and coldest tropopause temperature are very significant. NO ₂ content is 125% more in the evening times than in the morning (5E+14 cm^-3). Land surface processes influence tropical aerosols up to 13Kms. At stratospheric altitudes >17Km, volcanoes eruptions are important.

The Visakhapatnam sky is fully loaded with Volcanoes gases and submicroscopic particles of Volcanoes ash, which would perhaps reside in the atmosphere over years of time. They concentrate over 17Kms to 30Kms at a peak of 23-25Kms for months. Multiple scattering events do take place due to sunlit radiations.
II. Aerosols:
Pollution due to aerosols and role of particulate matter in atmosphere has been studied by Noble and Prather [3] in 1998. I state that during the time of Total Solar Eclipse aerosols and particulate matter of the terrestrial atmosphere near the coastal region of Visakhaptnam has considerably modified. Solar Cosmic Rays [3] on neutral atmosphere produce N⁺₂, O⁺₂, and electrons also protons (10 to 100MeV) and Alpha particles. Positive ions are abundant near the equator. The acidic molecules play a role in the heights between 32 and 43 Kms. [4]

The environment pollution of terrestrial atmosphere is by metallic objects and burnt ashes of space vehicles, debris of these vehicles and their exhaust gases, Nuclear Powered planetary flights residuals, gas emissions from global mega industries, human population waste material vapors and thrown away chemicals, mega transport and oil tanker movements and other Nuclear & warfare fire powder emissions. Plasma Space ionosphere conditions have totally changed due to recent earthquakes and volcanic events.
III.Airglow:**
K.V.Narasinga Rao et al [5] studied airglow interactions with microwave radiation [see at this blogspot article posted dated: 23rd July 2008 by the present author]. Airglow is by emission of photons produced in recombination of ionized and dissociated atmospheric particles by UV light absorption[6].Yellow light is due to Sodium Doublet 5890/96 Angstroms and Red doublet 6300/6364 Angstroms at 200-300Kms height and the Green line 5577 Angstroms airglow is by excited Oxygen atoms. These occur at middle latitudes and Upper atmosphere. Emission processes are resonance scattering, fluorescence, chemical association ionic reactions, photo-electron transfer and excitation species transfer. Transfer from vibrationally excited N₂, O₂, and OH is possible.
IV. Observations made by the author on 1st August 2008:
The partial eclipse started at 4.03PM and reached its peak around 5.10PM.

Fig.1a) gives the vintage point chosen, on the top of a hillock, to view the partial Solar Eclipse. The sun set path indicated by a dashed line connecting the centers of the shifting disk of Sun, from 4:40PM to 6.30PM.
Fig.1b) This diagram gives view of the Fractal Aurora/Airglow of Golden-Yellow color, as observed by the present author between 5.10PM to almost 5.25PM. Dancing Fractal Aurora/Airglow was an unforgettable & an enchanting experience.
Fig.2 presents a schematic Diagram of the observed partial Eclipse depicting the way in which Moon was obstructing the line sight of the sun. The Fractal Aurora/Airglow is definitely due to a transient effect from the sun on the Lunar edge. Of course, when the scale diagram, is drawn one would note, the sun affecting the entire far side of the Moon surface. The cones of transients, which affect the terrestrial atmosphere and the Lunar surface edge, by the solar eclipse, are shown.

See Fig 1(a) & Fig 1. (b) For the observed Golden Yellow Aurora display ***, that occurred for about 15 minutes. The onset of eclipse effect was actually felt around 1.30PM ,since the sun-light was suddenly bright and temperature were a bit high by about 3 to 4 ⁰ C. The brightness and warm weather [7] lasted up to 5.30PM and around 3.30PM to 4.30PM, the warm breeze was gently blowing across from West to East. The Golden –Yellow reflection from leaves of the big trees could be easily spotted by 2.30PM.At 5.30PM the Blue and Red scattering of clouds increased and again around 5.40PM the bright whitish-golden glow combined with at lower levels an Orange color, was observed over the clouds.

The distant clouds offered spectacular observation of golden lit and grayish-blue flows, similar to that of volcanoes lava flows. The scenario of these river flows of magnificent colors over the clouds gave a panoramic view that lasted till the sunset around 7.00PM. The sun was very intense around 6.05PM and at 6.30PM sunset was unusually dark red in color. At 6.00PM in Vizag the Sun had a reddish glow ring around it with a bright white front view. The Hyderabad atmosphere was slightly different and hence at 6.00PM sun showed Orange, Red, Yellow and front Green colors.



V. Findings and Conclusions:

1). The observation revealed the amazing fractal aurora appearance of Golden-yellow color at the time of peak solar eclipse time. Interpretation of Fractal Aurora/Airglow of 1st August 2008 in terms of Julia Set, like that of a necklace, would a simple and easy way to describe the occurrence of the day glow at Visakhapatnam. But the deeper look into at the event would reveal the need of a sophisticated theoretical model to explain the mechanism. The author’s model and views giving these details would be given in a later blogspot post at this site. This aurora existed for about 15 minutes; its estimated extent was about 300Kms at a height of 110Kms. sporadic enhancement of the Lithium lines are known in the day glow, though the mechanism is unknown. The Na day glow shows a peak around noon time.
2). the resonance absorption enhancement may be one of the mechanisms responsible for the aurora spectra of the Golden-Yellow color. Details of this would be published later.
3).Lunar dust See Fig.2 has definitely been carried by the radiation and deflected by the solar wind streams to the terrestrial magnetosphere regions.
4). The effect of lunar dust fine particulate matter persisted on the terrestrial atmosphere until Sunday evening up to 7.30PM
5). The Volcanoes eruptions that occurred in Indonesia, Andaman & Nicobar Islands have polluted the terrestrial atmosphere at the altitude of 17 to 30Kms.
6). The thermal changes observed are due to the channeled flow of EUV, UV and X-radiations from the sun during the Total Solar Eclipse hours. The eclipse passed over Arctic Canada, Greenland, Western Siberia, Mongolia and China.
The Fig.1 (a) and (b) indicate the simple geometrical orientations of the Sun-Moon at the time of eclipse. The orientation was found to be surprisingly poignant for the observation of the Aurora/Airglow effects.
7). Monday 4th August 2008 night sky was remarkably clear with a faint translucent layer that made almost innumerable stars visible at Visakhapatnam around 9.00PM.
8).On 5th August 2008 Jupiter (in Sagittarius), Deneb, Altair and Vega stars formed a nice parallelogram. The day was very sunny and the night sky was quite clear to view the stars.
9). The Heat Islands [7] of Visakhapatnam identified by Dr. Suhasini Kotcherlakota are very significant for Airglow studies.
10).The Lunar far side and its rim have provided, a dark purple colored metallic rock targets, for transients and solar fast electrons bombardment to produce Lyman-a ,UV and bremmstrahlung X–rays (<10>

VI.ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
The author wishes to express his gratitude to Late Professor K.Rangdhama Rao D.Sc. (Madras). D.Sc. (London), who has inspired and gave constant encouragement. He is also indebted to late Professor Kai Siegbhan, FYSIKUM, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden, for the grant of Academic stay in Sweden, under SAEA, UNESCO and IAEA fellowship during the years 1964-1965. He is also grateful to many a Swedish people and staff for their help. Author’s special thanks are to Professor. B.Edlen at University of Lund, Lund, Sweden.
VII. REFERENCES:
1. Carl Stomer, Nature, Dt.3rd April 1937, p.5842.
2. a).A.S.Roger ,British Antarctic Survey,UK “Solar wind data shows very significant variations in velocity, density and magnetic field orientation on a time-scale of a minute or less” NOAA Solar Terrestrial Prediction Vol.1,Oct 16-20,p.183 (1990)
b). A Hedberg and H.Derblom, Uppsala Div.of SISP, S-75591, Uppsala, Sweden (NOAA),
Solar Terrestrial Prediction Vol.1, Oct 16-20, p.313 (1990) “Regarding E-propagation on the path Kiruna-Stockholm (1000Kms)”
3 a).Baker D.N et al NASA Pub.1120, Washington D.C (1984)
Solar Terrestrial Prediction Vol.1, Oct 16-20, p.26 (1990)
b). C.Noble and K.Prather, Physics World. Vol.11, No.1, Jan p.39-43 (1998)
4. Science Focus, PRL, Ahmedabad, Vol.5, No.2, Oct.p.70-87, (1994)
5. Dr. K.V.Narasinga Rao, 1. Billerica Rd, Bedford (Mass), USA attended a plasma conference in 1964 that was held at FYSIKUM, University of Uppsala, and Uppsala, Sweden. He has observed during his visit the aurora borealis in Sweden.
6. K.Rangadhama Rao D.Sc. (Madras) D.Sc. (London) and Theses work submitted under his guidance: He developed a UV-Tube for pioneering work on Series Spectral Lines of Alkali Metals and other Atoms and Ions. He also used the Green Light excitation to determine the exact and accurate spectral wavelengths. Most of these studies made by him in India and London were of great relevance to the aurora mechanisms. Dr.K. Rangadhama Rao witnessed the aurora borealis in Sweden while he was at Fysikum, Univ.of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden, with Professor Manne Siegbhan. He also worked at Paschen Berlin Labs of Physics. His colleagues, in Sweden were Dr. B. Edlen and Dr. Mack. (Later at Wisconsin University)
7. Regarding Visakhapatnam reference may be made to Dr. K. P. K Suhasini M.Sc. (Project) entitled “Environmental problems and Disaster management” Dated: 22nd April 2000, for the Department of Environmental Studies, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530002. She asserts “Its natural local climate owes its origin to the peculiar topography---grown into an ugly urban agglomeration-----“.She gave about Heat Islands, the remarks (1). Sirpur concrete structure of surface coverage with asphalt (2) Population density maintains steep thermal gradients (3) are complicated zones with multiple cores corresponding to the nature and distribution of city structures (4). More basic work is needed in Urban Meteorology.
Dr.Suhasini Kotcherlakota M. S (UNK) Doctoral Dissertation “A test of Strategies for Enhanced learning of descriptive Chemistry” awarded by Dean Prem S. Paul, on 5th may 2007, 9:30 O’clock, Lincoln, Nebraska. Advisor Professor David W. Brooks, http://dwb2.unl.edu/apchem/main.html/.
* Author of this article witnessed the aurora borealis while on a flight from Kastrup Airport to Amsterdam, during 20.00 to 21.55 hrs, on the 3rd Monday of May 1965.
** Airglow covers several latitudes and is generally unstructured. A unit of Measure is 1R=1E+06 photons/sq.cm/sec. It is energized by steady solar UV and X-ray emissions. Aurora is a high latitude phenomenon energized by charged particles, in upper atmosphere during solar and geophysical disturbances. It is a structured in both Space and Time but has a vivid variety of displays.
*** Rig-Veda and ancient Indian Scriptures have hymns giving details of SUVARNA (golden) rays of the Sun. According to Astro-panchang of India the eclipse to view is not inauspicious since it is also being viewed by Mercury and Venus planets, especially to those born in the Leo or Simha rasi(Zodiac sign) Eclipse occurred in Pushya Rasi i.e. Cancer and dangerous to view for the people born in this nakshtra!!

This photo shows The Lucia Day at FYSIKUM, University of Uppsala, with the local Orchestra Group. The author was a revere International Fellow invited on that Day. Dr.K.L.Narayana stayed at Granitvagen 4B Apt, in Uppsala during August 1964 to June 1965.

The author had the privilege to meet the Physics Nobel Prize winners in Physics at FYSIKUM, Uppsala, in the second week of December 1964.This photo shows Dr.Kotcherlakota Lakshmi Narayana discussing with Professor Dr. Charles Towens [double prize winner of both the Nobel Prize (Sweden) and the Templeton Prize (USA)]

The picture shows author at Netherlands Sea Port on May 4th, 1965