The sound of Aurora Borealis....

[corrado]

Yesterday, my Signal Processing Professor told in our lecture, that some people are able to hear a sound that goes with the northern light. Only with high-performing microphones it is possible to proof this technically, but the proof was done (some years ago), and obviously, the northern light really produces perceivable noise. He told it to explain, that it is very difficult to mimic human hearing with technical means because of the high sensitivity.

I was wondering, if someone else has heard about it (or even heard the noise?), ´cause I´d be interested what it sounds like, alltough, after some years of heavy metal, i don´t think that I would be ever able to hear it

 

[Arch]

Is that like split-second flickering sound of lightning?

 

[corrado]

Is that like split-second flickering sound of lightning?

Probably, he did not quite explain it. The sound of lightning comes from ionisation of air due to the high electrical potential of the cloud. The northern light comes from collisions of gas particles, i think also there ionisation must take place, so it could be the same noise, just difficult to hear because of the distance.

 

[Neslepaks]

I hope I'll see northern lights this winter. I've never seen them.

 

[Nordabrand]

Yes!!! This is indeed an amazing fact, and I never knew of it until my father told me a year ago: "Did you also know, that the northern lights give out a noice?" I was like...what?!? That's BS...there's no noice...(since I had NEVER heard it).

Anyway, 3 months later, we saw northern lights upon the sky a cold winter evening, now, I dont know exactly how loud it is...hard to say really except that's it's not loud as in...people talking to each other, not that loud...at all. Anyway, we were out by our summer house in the woods so there were no other sounds...and when we saw it, I could HEAR it!! For the first time ever had I heard the sound of it...it's not really amazing or beautiful, but very...mystical, since it's more of a...think of a TV-screen going blank, and it sounds "zzzzttzzhhzzzzz", you know the sound...it's sounds a bit like that...but very, very quiet, it's a bit scary too...cause it sounds like...I dont know, INCOMING!!!! Lol...nah but it's really, really really reaaaalllly mystical and enchanting. I dont know what is the best place to hear this, as I was up on a small hill, but...other from that I dont know, supposedly a quiet place helps, and the northern lights were moving rather quickly that night, so it might sound more if it moves more, usually it's kinda slow...so, maybe that might affect it.

Hope this helps a little, oh and I'm pretty sure it's "Aurora Polaris", not "Aurora _Borealis_".

 

[Vintersorg]

Yes!!! This is indeed an amazing fact, and I never knew of it until my father told me a year ago: "Did you also know, that the northern lights give out a noice?" I was like...what?!? That's BS...there's no noice...(since I had NEVER heard it).

Anyway, 3 months later, we saw northern lights upon the sky a cold winter evening, now, I dont know exactly how loud it is...hard to say really except that's it's not loud as in...people talking to each other, not that loud...at all. Anyway, we were out by our summer house in the woods so there were no other sounds...and when we saw it, I could HEAR it!! For the first time ever had I heard the sound of it...it's not really amazing or beautiful, but very...mystical, since it's more of a...think of a TV-screen going blank, and it sounds "zzzzttzzhhzzzzz", you know the sound...it's sounds a bit like that...but very, very quiet, it's a bit scary too...cause it sounds like...I dont know, INCOMING!!!! Lol...nah but it's really, really really reaaaalllly mystical and enchanting. I dont know what is the best place to hear this, as I was up on a small hill, but...other from that I dont know, supposedly a quiet place helps, and the northern lights were moving rather quickly that night, so it might sound more if it moves more, usually it's kinda slow...so, maybe that might affect it.

Hope this helps a little, oh and I'm pretty sure it's "Aurora Polaris", not "Aurora _Borealis_".

It's "Aurora Borealis" and the southern light is "Aurora Australis"

I have the sound on tape!!

mr V

 

[Nordabrand]

And..?? Doesn't it sound like...that zztthzz kinda thing, I think so...a..."brus" in swedish...

 

[Vintersägen]

I have the sound on tape!!

mr V

Really?!?!?!?!?!? You gave me the best idea ever!!!! Thanks!!!

 

[Malefa]

What idea?
mr V, try to put it in mp3 or wav...so we can hear it too

 

[Sigma]

This should REALLY interest you guys...
http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/~pulsar/Education/Sounds/sounds.html



<--- HUUUGE astronomy nerd

 

[corrado]

Thanks for the information! I hope, one day i´ll be able to travel to Scandinavia, and I hope then i´ll see/hear Aurora Borealis too.

@ Sigma: Cool page you found!

 

[EdgeCrusher77]

What idea?
mr V, try to put it in mp3 or wav...so we can hear it too

Yeah that will be a great idea :hotjump: :Spin:

 

[Nordabrand]

This should REALLY interest you guys...
http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/~pulsar/Education/Sounds/sounds.html



<--- HUUUGE astronomy nerd

Thank you very much , I am also a gigantic nerd of astronomy, and since I live up in the north, where cold winter nights really clear the skies...it's easy to watch, enjoy and be amazed by it ..., god bless physics!!

 

[Nordabrand]

It's "Aurora Borealis" and the southern light is "Aurora Australis"

I have the sound on tape!!

mr V

Of course!!! Aurora Polaris is "The northern star"!! How could I forget! My bad, good call Vintersorg.

 

[A Journeys End]

Damnit, I thought this was going to be about the band!
I'll get my coat and leave

 

[Vintersägen]

What idea?

Sorry, but I can't tell right now... Maybe in the future!

 

[Arch]

Whelp, news has it that the sun is ejecting 2 billion tons of plasma to earth; for one thing, we should be expecting some more Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis very soon.

 

[Vintersorg]

Yes, it's following a cycle of 11 years. I've actually written a lyric which deals with that, in an awkard way...heheheh


mr V

 

[Arch]

Yes, it's following a cycle of 11 years. I've actually written a lyric which deals with that, in an awkard way...heheheh


mr V

Have you included the sound of aurora borealis in that song?

 

[Vintersorg]

Have you included the sound of aurora borealis in that song?

Nope.

mr V