Solar Storm Threat Analysis - Impact
Solar Storm Threat Analysis - Impact
Solar Storm Threat Analysis - Impact
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<strong>Impact</strong>, 2007 James A. Marusek<br />
In March 1782, an aurora borealis overspread the whole Western Hemisphere. The light generally appears<br />
in detached places, sometimes with a constantly tremulous motion and at others more steady. It assumes all<br />
hues from a pale yellow through deep orange and violet to a blood color.<br />
The Indianapolis Daily Journal, Indianapolis, Indiana, Tuesday, August 30 1859, Vol. IX, No. 59<br />
This is a description of the 2 September 1859 Great Aurora from New Albany, Indiana (located in the extreme<br />
southern edge of the state at latitude 38.31 degrees North). The intensity of this solar storm was so great that it<br />
shifted the Aurora to the extreme south. At least one resident in New Albany believed he was observing the<br />
“Southern Lights”.<br />
Southern Lights – For some three hours - commencing about midnight of Thursday the whole heavens<br />
were lighted up in the most brilliant manner. Waking up during the night we found our bedroom, though<br />
partially curtained, filled with a bright light. Not knowing whether there was a fire in the neighborhood, or<br />
it was daylight, we got up and looked at the watch, and found it to be a quarter after one - the dials on the<br />
watch (a yellow faced one) being distinctly visible within the room. When we observed it the light<br />
appeared to be generally diffused over the whole sky, but was reddest in a southerly direction, at an angle<br />
of about forty five degrees. Towards the north it appeared to be whiter. To try the brilliancy of the light<br />
we got a copy of the Ledger, and out of doors could distinctly read the smallest type on which it is printed.<br />
This can rarely be done by moonlight.<br />
Following so quickly upon the magnificent Aurora Borealis of Sunday night this phenomenon - the light<br />
appearing on the opposite side of the horizon - will doubtless attract the attention of the learned. In<br />
consequence of its appearing at so late an hour of the night, but few witnessed the splendid spectacle. It<br />
was probably what is called the Aurora Australis or Southern Light, which was first discovered by Mr.<br />
Foster, who made a voyage around the world with Capt. Cook in 1773. Capt. Wilkes makes frequent<br />
mention of having seen fine colored displays in the Antarctic regions. On Feb 9th and March 17th, 1840,<br />
there were splendid exhibitions of this phenomenon, his descriptions of which correspond in many aspects<br />
with that of last night.<br />
The New Albany Daily Ledger, New Albany, Indiana, Friday, September 2, 1859, Vol. XI, No. 3089<br />
This Great Aurora was seen in the Northern Hemisphere as far south as La Union, San Salvador at latitude 13<br />
degrees, 18 minutes north of the equator. They described “the red light was so vivid that the roofs of the houses and<br />
the leaves of the trees appeared as if covered with blood.” 2<br />
Sometimes the auroras blazed so brightly red that individuals and city fire departments would mistake them for large<br />
forest fires or nearby cities burning.<br />
• August 28, 1859 Aurora: Several fire departments were called out in Washington D.C. [Evening Star]<br />
• August 28, 1859 Aurora: Citizens of Inagua, Bahamas panicked believing a large fire was consuming their<br />
neighborhood. 2<br />
• September 2, 1859 Aurora: New Orleans Fire Companies in Louisiana responded to a great conflagration<br />
on the outskirts of the city, believing the city was being burned to the ground. [New Orleans Bee,]<br />
• September 3, 1859 Aurora: Inhabitants of Kingston, Jamaica believed Cuba was being consumed by fire. 2<br />
• October 14, 1870 Aurora: The fire department in New Haven, Connecticut sounded the fire alarm and<br />
turned out to fight the illusion of a mass fire. [New York Times]<br />
• February 13, 1892 Aurora: The citizens of Cincinnati, Ohio had mistaken an aurora and believed the city of<br />
Hamilton, located 25 miles to the north was on fire. [The New York Times]<br />
• March 8, 1918 Aurora: Two officers in Atlanta, Georgia mistook an aurora and chased it thinking it was a<br />
fire. [The Atlanta Constitution]<br />
• March 9, 1918 Aurora: The aurora had confused many into believing that the Germans had bombed<br />
London and set it ablaze. [The Washington Post].<br />
• March 9, 1926 Aurora: The fire department at Salzburg, Austria was sent out to put out an aurora. The<br />
citizens thought the whole city was ablaze. [The New York Times]<br />
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