THE USE OF SPACE DATA BY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TO PREDICT AND ANALYSE AURORAL DISPLAYS IN THE ARCTIC

Paper number

IAC-21,E1,3,4,x64726

Author

Dr. Carol Norberg, Sweden, Umeå University

Year

2021

Abstract

Umeå University in Sweden offers a distance course in Arctic Science to international undergraduates. Each year 70-80 students participate in the course which includes a field trip to Kiruna, a small town in the Arctic in an ideal location to observe auroral phenomena during the dark winter months. A central activity in the course is an auroral observation exercise. Students use real-time data on the solar wind that is gathered by satellites at the L1 Lagrangian point in order to determine the status of the space weather close to the Earth. After a visit to the Swedish Institute of Space Physics to learn about the data gathered at the institute, they also use local ground-based observations of Earth's magnetic field and weather reports in order to plan outdoor observations. Students are able to access the necessary data from their mobile phones. Participants become deeply engaged in monitoring the space weather conditions in order to ascertain the chance of seeing an auroral display and acquire an understanding of the range of space-based data that is freely available to society at large. 
The students compare their own visual observations and photographs with data sets from space and the ground to acquire a deeper understanding of the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere. 
The aurora exercise is carried out by small groups of students working together and written up in a report in order to promote teamwork and develop skills in academic writing. The aurora exercise has been run by Umeå University for over a decade and continues to evolve. At least partially cloud-free skies are needed in order to see the aurora from the ground. To maximise the chance of success an evening excursion to a location that is known to be often cloud free was introduced. Use of the aurora exercise has been extended to courses for PhD students and a teacher development course in space physics. 
Although the tantalising experience of standing outside surrounded by snow and looking up at an active colourful auroral display is confined to the planet’s auroral zones, by using all-sky camera data available on-line this activity can be adapted to a classroom at any location in the world. The online version has been tested out in 2021 since the course has been taken entirely online by some students due to the pandemic.

Abstract document

IAC-21,E1,3,4,x64726.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-21,E1,3,4,x64726.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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