Geschichte

This luminous phenomenon, which can be seen even at latitudes of up to about 50° N or S during strong solar activity, has been known since ancient times. Aristotle is said to have referred to it as "jumping goats" because of its bizarre, often flame-like shapes. In the 5th century CE, astronomers in ancient China attempted to predict floods or droughts, rich harvests, or famines based on the colors of the auroras. (according to J. Needham, 1959) In Norse mythology, and in the myths of the North American Indians and Eskimos as well as the Siberians, the Northern Lights played a significant role. They were often interpreted as the dance of maidens, the Valkyries, or as battles of gods and spirits, but also as manifestations of fallen warriors communicating with the living. Among Canadian Indians, their god made himself known through these luminous displays to inquire about the well-being of his tribes. In other myths, the auroras were interpreted as fire. In the Middle Ages, the Northern Lights, like the appearance of a comet, were considered signs of impending war, famine, and epidemics, such as the plague. In Nordic countries, the appearance of auroras in folklore was interpreted as a sign of an upcoming weather change. However, a direct connection between processes in the upper atmosphere and weather events in the troposphere (below 10 km) has not yet been proven. Nonetheless, in Norway, the aurora was also called "wind light", meaning a light that causes wind, thus a sign of storms and bad weather. In the Faroe Islands, a low aurora was considered a sign of good weather, a high aurora a sign of bad weather. An unsteady (flickering) aurora indicated wind. Finally, in Sweden, an aurora in early autumn was interpreted as a sign of a harsh winter. (according to A. Brekke and A. Egeland, 1983).