RESEARCH ON AURORAE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25272, 26 August 1947, Page 6

RESEARCH ON AURORAE

WORK AT MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY

During 1946 17 aurora displays were seen over Canterbury, and to date this year there have been 23. Several times aurorae have been seen as far north as Auckland, and in a great display in 1921, the Aurora Australis was observed at Apia, Samoa. Giving this information yesterday, officers of the Magnetic Observatory, Christchurch, where aurora research is carried on, said that the display on Friday created one of the- largest magnetic disturbances the station had recorded for some time. Aurora activity, they thought, should be fairly frequent during September and October this year, and it was likely that it would continue over Canterbury for the next two years. The 11 year sunspot cycle was just about at its maximum' now, and it had been proved that after such peaks, aurora activity continued for about two years. Observations are collected by the Christchurch Observatory as an aid to research on aurorae being done by the Carter Observatory, Wellington, while an observing station has also been established at the Campbell Islands. Scattered, reports have been gathered during the 40 years that the Christchurch Observatory has been in existence, but it is only during the last two years that a full programme of observation and reporting has been in operation. The observatory is also interested in the relationship between aurora activity, terrestrial magnetism, and radio conditions. Work of Amateur. Observers Throughout Canterbury the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory has 16 regular aurora observers, with whom it keeps in touch by a system of bulletins containing topical information and suggestions. Their work, which is of considerable value to the general research programme, is considered to be of a remarkably high standard. Last year more than 50 written reports were sent in, and this year more than 60 have been received so far. The idea of relying on amateur observers for reports is based on the need for data to be collected in as wide an area as possible. Even with good equipment established in one place there is no certainty that a display might not be missed because of moonlight or cloud. New Zealand has been actively engaged in aurora research since 1933, but for only a few years of that time before the war were auroral cameras used in Southland. Otherwise, until that time, knowledge of the Aurora Australis was gained entirely from eye-witness reports.