AURORA BOREALIS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 17 June 1933, Page 14

AURORA BOREALIS

Noise Heard by Observers

audibility of the aurora borealis, the subject of dispute among scientists for many years, has been verified to some extent by tlie researches of the Canadian Astrophysieal Observatory of the Ministry of the Interior, says the “Observer," London. The observatory at Victoria,' British Columbia, has been making an extended analysis of observations of persons resident in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. [Reports -were garnered from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, signallers of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in the sub-Arctic, Royal Canadian Air Force flyers in the Far North, trappers and traders and others. These reports indicate that 144 persons claim to have heard auroral sounds. Most of these people were reliable, intelligent observers. The evidence indicates that there is undoubtedly sound accompanying those displays of unusual intensity. Most of the observers describe the sounds as of a swishing, rustling, crackling nature. Auroral curtains or streamers close to the earth’s service have also been reported, the auroral light being seen against a background object, such as a tree cliff, or building. Cold, clear winter nights bring the aurora most in evidence.