auroral observations in indiametnet.imd.gov.in/mausamdocs/515413.pdfbrilliant auroraborelus of 4...

M. PANDIDlANGA BAO 55 1 '5ll- 1'5: 551 '5 (1l(M) 2. Brilliant Aurora Borel Us of 4 February 1872 Tho only instance of Aurora visible in India is t hat observed on the night of Sunday the 4th Fobruarv 1 8i2 . One of the most intense displays on record, t his Aurora has att racted world-wide attention and in onr country, newspaper reports regarc:ling it from differen t parts have appeared in the "Times of India, Bombay" (then known as the "Bombay Times") and other papers in Ca lcut ta and Delhi, This Aurora was visible as fur south as Bombay (geographic latitud e HJ I) N, geomagnetic latitude 10° N). Below is reprodu ced au extract from the Times of India, Bombay, dnted 6 February 18i2 . "T HE AUHORA B OHEAUS Will it surprise our readers to learn th at the Aurora Borealis was plaialy vis ible in Bombay on Sunday ni ght last! Such was, indeed, th e case lind its effect felt too. After sunset on Snnday the Aurora was slightly visible and constantly kept chang ing colour, becoming deep violot when it was most intense - about three o'clock on Monday mortling. It wus dist inctly visible uu til sunrise on )Ionday. The influence of this atmospheric disturbance was unpleasant beth for our \,er80 1I8 a nd our correspondence. The cold was unp leas antl y keen a mi all telegraphic commun ication WBK stopped fer some hours. Both before and after its height, the Aurora affected the working of both sections of thc Indian Sub marine Cable, one section running Auroral observations in India AB. ":iTR.\CT. The cecurrenr-e of Aurora HOrt"Rli8 in low lethudee. »ueh at' Bombay and AlibaJ! . j ll a Vf'ry rare phenomenon. Aurora Bnrt'"lil4 W8 10 hrilliantl:,' w-en in J nrlia durir:J: the se vere magnet!c storm of " February 1 Condit ions fa vo uraLlt' fur tbe o bserva tion of "\uro m in Future art" ginn. )[agnetic etcrms of range c;ot;('f'f'ding Ull() "t in the hnrizunta l i utensit y ILl Cele bs and .Alihag Rre Ii Rl pd wit h eo mme nt« rcgllrd ir,g' tbe po :;lSib ili t y (If u bse rv ar iou of Aurora. Cola&. Obser va tory, Boml Xl Y (Rereired 5 September 1963) 1. Introduction Tho "Aurora Borealis" or Xorth eru I ... ights, as is well-known, are luminisce nt phenomena observed at grea t height s in t he sky of variegated colours and shapes around tho magnetic nqrth pole usually within the Arctic Circle. The Aurorae are most intense oyer the magnetic nor th pole hut it can be seen as south as England and cceasionally Italy. Its counterpa rt th e "Aurora Australis" is seen in the southern skies around the south magnetic polo with its sphere of vi sibility 8S far north as Samo a. The agency responsible fe r the Aurorae is in the Sun. Aurorae arc usually associated with magnetic storms. Tho occurrence of Aurora Borealis in India is an extremely rare event. Chapman has made a strong plea for the observation of Aurora in the mid-auroral belt, i.e.. between 45° north magnet ic latitude ann 45° south magnet ic ..atitudc. He has suggested th at high altitude .stations with low horizons and good seeing 'onditions should be selected to undertake auroral watch. During the Interuational Geophysical Year (July 195i to December 1958) and the Internutionul Geophysica l Co-ope rat ion (J anu ar y to December 1959), :be Magnetic Observatory at Alibag kept a special watch for Aurora but none could be located, although two great storms of ranges exceeding 600 y in the horizontal intens ity were recorded at Alibag, which were as· sociated with Aurora in th e polar and surrounding regions.

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Page 1: Auroral observations in Indiametnet.imd.gov.in/mausamdocs/515413.pdfBrilliant AuroraBorelUs of 4 February 1872 Tho only instance of Aurora visible in India is thatobserved on the night

M. PANDIDlANGA BAO

551 '5ll-1'5: 551'5(1l(M)

2. Brilliant Aurora Borel Us of 4 February 1872

Tho only instance of Aurora visible inIndia is t hat observed on the night of Sundayt he 4th Fobruarv 18i2. One of the mostintense displays on record , t his Au rora hasatt racted world-wide attention and in onrcount ry, newspaper reports regarc:ling itfrom differen t par ts have appeared in t he"Times of India, Bombay" (then kno wn asthe " Bombay Times") and other papers inCalcutta and Delhi, This Aurora was visibl eas fur south as Bombay (geographic latitudeHJI) N, geomagnetic latitude 10° N). Below isreprodu ced au extract from the Times ofIndia, Bombay, dnted 6 February 18i2.

" THE AUHORA BOHEAUS

Will it surprise our readers to learn thatt he Aurora Borealis was plaialy vis ible inBombay on Sunday night last ! Such was,indeed, the case lind its effect felt too . Afte rsunset on Snnday t he Aurora was slightlyvisible and consta nt ly kept changing colour,becoming deep violot when it was mostintense - about th ree o'clock on Mondaymortling. It wus dist inctly visible uutil sunriseon )Ionday . The influence of this atmosphericdisturba nce was unpleasant beth for our\,er801I8 and our correspondence. The coldwas unpleasantly keen ami all telegraphiccommunicat ion W BK stopped fer some hours.Bot h before and afte r its height , th e Auroraaffected the working of bot h sect ions of th cIndian Submarine Cabl e, one sect ion running

Auroral observations in India

AB.":iTR.\CT. The cecurrenr-e of Aurora HOrt"Rli8 in low lethudee. »ueh at' Bombay an d AlibaJ!. j lla Vf'ry rare phenomenon. Aurora Bnrt'"lil4 W810 hrilliantl:,' w-en in Jnrlia durir:J: the se vere magne t!c s to r mof " Feb rua ry 1~"i:! . Condit ions fa vouraLlt' fur tbe o bserva tion of "\uro m in Future art" ginn. )[agneticetcrms of range c;ot;('f'f'ding Ull() "t in the hnrizunta l iutensity ILl Cele bs and .Alihag Rre Ii Rl pd wit h eo mment«rcg llrd ir,g' tbe po :;lSib ili ty (If ubserv ar iou of Aur ora.

Cola&. Observatory, BomlXlY

(Rereired 5 September 1963)

1. Introduction

Tho "Aurora Borealis" or Xortheru I ... ights,as is well-known, are luminiscent phenomenaobserved at grea t height s in t he sky ofvariegated colours and shapes around thomagnetic nqrth pole usually within theArctic Circle. The Aurorae are most intenseoyer t he magnetic north pole hut it can beseen as south as England and cceasionallyIta ly . Its counterpart th e "Aurora Australis"is seen in the souther n skies around the southmagnetic polo with its sphere of vi sibili ty 8S

far north as Samoa. The agency respons iblefer the Aurorae is in the Sun. Aurorae arcusually associated with magnet ic storms. Thooccurrence of Aurora Borealis in India is anextremely rare event. Chapman has made astrong plea for the observation of Aurora inthe mid-auroral belt , i.e.. betwee n 45° northmagnet ic latitude ann 45° south magnet ic..atitu dc. He has suggested that high alt it ude.st ati ons with low horizons and good seeing'o nditions should be selected to undertakeauroral watch. During the Inter uat ionalGeophys ical Year (July 195i to December1958) and the Internut ionul Geophysica lCo-operat ion (Janu ary to December 1959),: be Magnetic Observa to ry at Alibag kept aspecial watch for Aurora but none could belocated, although two great storms of rangesexceedin g 600 y in th e horizontal intensitywere recorded at Alibag, which were as·sociated with Aurora in the polar andsurrounding regions.