Auroral activity in Japan recently took a dramatic turn, with scientists witnessing salmon pink and blue-dominant auroras that challenged existing theories about their formation. The spectacular display occurred on May 11, 2024, driven by a powerful magnetic storm.
Researchers analyzed public and scientific data to gain insights into the phenomena, discovering new structural details and potential mechanisms. A study published in Earth, Planets and Space revealed that the blue-dominant aurora had longitudinal structures aligned with magnetic field lines, a first-time observation in low-latitude auroras.
The team, led by Sota Nanjo and Kazuo Shiokawa, found that the aurora spanned 1200 km in longitude, consisted of three separated structures, and ranged from 400-900 km. Their findings suggest an unidentified process may be responsible for the formation of blue-dominant auroras.
The discovery challenges current understanding of how nitrogen molecular ions can exist at high altitudes. Future research on repeated observations of these events could provide clues to understanding this principle.
The study’s results, published on December 5, offer a glimpse into the mysteries of auroral activity and may lead to new insights into geomagnetic storms and space radiation environments.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/mysterious-blue-and-pink-auroras-over-japan-challenge-scientific-understanding