| Show aurora borealis poles are in no way related for a long time the aurora borealis was an object of complete mystery and it has been only in recent years that it has come to be fairly well understood it was long known that it was not limited to the northern hemisphere it appeared with equal frequency and intensity in antarctic regions where it was known as the aurora contrary to common belief states a writer in the chicago tribune there is no connection between the aurora and the north or south poles instead the centers of activity are the earths two magnetic poles the centers toward which all magnetic compasses point one of 0 these is in the extreme north of 0 canada and the other is in the antarctic continent the greatest frequency of auroras occurs not at these poles but in certain belts encircling them this fact would indicate that the earths magnetic field is a factor in the case the relation of terrestrial magnetism is further shown by the fact that displays are most spectacular during the so called magnetic storms on the earth these are invisible mv isible and inaudible storms that sweep through the earths magnetic field violently distorting it at such times the needles of magnetic compasses fluctuate in an erratic manner that the aurora occurs in the earths atmosphere and not in outside space has been shown by the spectroscope and by direct observation the light given off has been split up into its individual wave lengths which have been identified as characteristic emissions ot of the various gases that make up air |
