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Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights

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The beautiful aurorae, or northern lights, are the stuff of legends. The ancient stories of the Sami people warn that if you mock the lights they will seize you, and their mythical appeal continues to capture the hearts and imagination of people across the globe. Aurora explores the visual beauty, ancient myths and science of the northern lights and challenges the popular theory of how the lights are formed. Plasma physicist Melanie Windridge explains this extraordinary and evocative phenomenon, a scientific marvel unlike any other in which the powers of astronomy, geology, magnetism and atomic physics combine to create one of the wonders of the natural world. As Melanie travels in search of the perfect aurora, she uncovers the scientific realities of this plasmic phenomenon full of natural power. She combines the science behind the lights with a fascinating travelogue as she pursues the aurora across the northern hemisphere – from the Arctic Circle to Scotland.

320 pages, Hardcover

Published April 12, 2016

22 people are currently reading
408 people want to read

About the author

Melanie Windridge

5 books16 followers
Dr Melanie Windridge is a plasma physicist, speaker, writer… with a taste for adventure. She has a PhD in fusion energy from Imperial College London and is Communications Consultant for fusion start-up Tokamak Energy. She also works in education with the Ogden Trust, Anturus and Your Life. Melanie loves the mountains and believes science and exploration go hand in hand.

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5 stars
22 (18%)
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41 (34%)
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46 (38%)
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8 (6%)
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3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Paul.
2,230 reviews
May 12, 2019
I don’t have a bucket list, (do have a bucket though), but one day I want to see the amazing natural phenomena that is the aurorae borealis. The haunting beautiful lights that hang in the skies of the northern hemisphere also have their south equivalent, the aurora australis. They have been known to humanity for millennia and have been a sense of wonder and inspired stories and myths of their creation. However, it is only in the past few decades that we have become to understand how they are created.

Melanie Windridge’s work as a plasma physicist means that she is well placed to reveal all that has been learnt about the science behind these beautiful lights. As well as a clear explanation behind the science of the northern lights, Windridge head north to experience them for herself. Her travels take her from Scotland to Iceland, then Canada and onto Svalbard, where she sees the magnificent total solar eclipse. Also woven into the narrative is an exploration of the cultural effect that the light has had on the people that see them and how we have tried to replicate them and explain them before science.

This is a really nicely written book about the aurora. The science behind it is incredibly complex, the source of the energy comes from the solar wind and coronal ejections from our sun and the light is produced by the interaction between that and the trace elements in the upper atmosphere. I liked the blend of science, travel and history too; it shows that things should not be considered in isolation. The book had so photos of the auroras and her travels, but it would have been good to have more. Interestingly, you can see a certain amount with the naked eye of the aurora but when you take a photo then the true splendour is revealed.
Profile Image for Iset.
665 reviews606 followers
May 31, 2017

Part science read, part travelogue (although definitely heavier on the science side of things), Aurora covers quite comprehensively everything you wanted to know about the subject. The author (who is herself a physicist specialising in the subject) examines multiple aspects of the phenomenon, including its role in history and art, as well as getting to grips with the technical question of how it all works. I think it was well explained, speaking as one of those people who is enthused by space science but doesn't have an aptitude for it. But, in that contrarian way that the author herself observes, my favourite parts were still the bits where the book waxes lyrical, despite knowing the fascinating science behind it all. There's just something quixotic about the aurora that has timeless appeal.
Profile Image for Robert.
827 reviews44 followers
May 16, 2018
This is a blend of travelogue, scientific explanation and cultural and scientific history. It is most successful at the travelogue and least successful at the scientific explanation. The author unfortunately suffers from the "Curse of Knowedge" at times whereby understanding gained over many years of hard study becomes second-nature and one forgets that even the basics are unfamilar to most people - even most well educated people. This makes some of the attempts to explain the origins of the aurora somewhat muddled. It's worth reading, though, if you are interested in the aurora, polar exploration or how vulnerable much of our technology is to events utterly beyond our control, whose ultimate origin is our sun.
Profile Image for Christina.
930 reviews41 followers
January 20, 2019
An interesting mix between travelogue, history lesson and scientific explanation. I enjoyed the historical parts the most because I found it fascinating to find out about the beginnings of auroral research and the explorers who were enthralled by the lights. The scientific explanations were complex, but the author tried to make them understandable for non-physicists like myself. I feel like I got most of it even though some details may have escaped my understanding. I found the explanations regarding the aurora a lot more interesting than the parts about space weather, its influence on electricity, and the different eclipses. But that is simply a personal preference.
Overall, it was an interesting read, although it takes some time to get through.
Profile Image for Jennopenny.
1,064 reviews8 followers
Read
April 28, 2020
This is a good book.

It took me a long time to read it even though the topic interested me. I found it great at the beginning and really had me hooked. But being someone who doesn't read much non fiction that are dense in sciences, my head needed time to wrap myself around it.
I really enjoyed following Melanie when she was trying to see the aurora on different places, like Sweden, Scotland, Canada and Svalbard. But this books goes into more than just the aurora, which was good most of the time, but sometimes I felt that it got of track.
I do like this book though and would recommend if you're interested. It's not a book to read in one go, but rather in small bits or a chapter at the time.
465 reviews12 followers
April 19, 2016
Fascinated by the mysterious shape-shifting of the Northern Lights which intrigued both local communities and explorers long before they had an inkling of the scientific causes, plasma physicist Melanie Windridge set out to write a popular science-cum-travelogue to explain the phenomenon, visiting Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Canada and Scotland in the process.

The author makes comparisons to twanging elastic bands, strings of pearls or games of cricket to make theories easier to grasp. There is also a good deal of repetition, which can be useful, although I was left confused and frustrated by the fragmented explanation (with often unclear diagrams) of the all important “Dungey Cycle” by which the plasma stream of negatively charged particles from the solar wind interact with the earth’s magnetic field to give some of the most spectacular aurora effects on the night side of the earth. Perhaps I am puzzled over the above because the process is still not fully understood by the experts.

No doubt to achieve a reasonable length and to make the physics more digestible, the text sometimes seems “padded out” with mundane details of encounters, or over-long digressions into, say, the history of photography, but one cannot afford to skip anything. I found my interest unexpectedly caught by, for instance, the history of the Canadian town of Yellowknife, named after the copper blades of the knives carried by the local Dene people. In the series of prospecting rushes for minerals, the town had a belated gold mine open right up to 2003. For decades, the economy has functioned with “ice roads”, literally cleared of snow in order to freeze hard enough to support convoys of lorries, Now that the Canadian government is committed to the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway, there is local ambivalence over the inevitable damage to the ecosystem and traditional culture, the price to be paid for access to commercial progress. The focus on Yellowknife is of course due to its proximity to the Arctic Circle where the Northern Lights are most visible at night in the winter months.

Even if I am left unclear over the “aurora oval” and “reconnection”, I have certainly learned a good deal. Seen with the naked eye, the aurora may be much less impressive than the effect to be captured for the same event with a camera. Varying between arcs and “patchy pulsations”, the familiar green of the aurora derives from oxygen electrons which, with lower energy, may appear red: nitrogen molecules emit blue, violet and pink colours. Those who lived through the hundred year period from 1620 which became known as the Maunder Minimum would have seen few auroral displays, which seemed to coincide with a lack of sunspots visible on the surface of the sun. A “coronal mass ejection” or “vast blob of plasma” may be launched from the sun into space at great speed. Organisations like “Swipsie”, the Space Weather Prediction Center are co-operating to invest increasing resources in predicting whether it is likely to “interact with the solar wind ahead of it because this can twist up the magnetic fields and lead to a more severe event on earth”: apart from interference with the operation of satellites, this could involve damaging an electricity grid, or an unusually large and dramatic auroral display.
Profile Image for Katheryn Thompson.
Author 1 book59 followers
July 21, 2018
I read Aurora while on a two-week cruise around Iceland, Norway, and Scotland, and it made for perfect holiday reading; it was about a journey, and in the same part of the world as I was exploring (although, obviously, I didn't see the Northern Lights since I visited in the summer), and it was just the right amount of challenging (I often prefer reading non-fiction books on holiday).

This book is a wonderful mix of autobiography, science, and travel, and the structuring of the book around Windridge's journey works particularly well in making Aurora coherent. But most impressive is Windridge's ability to make complicated science intelligable and interesting, especially through everyday comparisons, which she seems to have a particular knack for.

A highly readable book about a fascinating phenomenon, Aurora is definitely one I would recommend if you're interested in learning more about the Northern Lights.
Profile Image for Debbie Mitchell.
535 reviews17 followers
August 1, 2024
I would give this book 5 stars for the explanation of the earth's magnetic field alone--but there is so much more!

The author, Melanie Windridge has a PhD in physics and she wrote thorough physics/chemistry explanations for Auroras.

This book is a mix of travelogue and pretty detailed physics. I would say this book is best for folks who already have a physics and chemistry background, so it was perfect for me.

I had a few small issues over some spectroscopy concepts were explained, but overall it was very good.

I’m really grateful Melanie Windridge wrote this book so I could better understand what I saw in May.
763 reviews20 followers
December 29, 2017
Windbridge describes her journeys through various countries in search of the aurora, using her travels as a lead-in to much information on it. An excellent read with good balance between the travelogue and the science.

Her travels in Sweden and Norway provide an introduction to life in the cold north, including the use of skis, dog sleds and snowmobiles. The tales and views of the aurora held by the indigenous people were often those of fear. Due to it's proximity to the aurora, Norway was the center of much early scientific work on the aurora. Most notably, Kristian Birkeland showed that it was due to particles from the sun which he modeled with his device, the terrella.

The author uses her visit to Iceland as a springboard into the physics were she provides a very understandable overview of the mechanisms in the earth's core that generate the magnetic field; the idea of plasma as the fourth state of matter where the atoms are ionized; the fusion in the sun releasing photons from the photosphere which features the variable sunspots; and the corona made up of high-pressure plasma expanding into space as the solar wind, forming the heliosphere.

Due to the tilt of the earth's geomagnetic axis (about ten degrees), the auroral zone (60 - 75 degrees magnetic latitude) is also tilted. As such, the aurora is visible in Scandinavia, difficult to see at all in Russia, but is visible at lower latitudes in Canada. Canada's east-west size means it has more prime aurora viewing area than any other country.

The Dungey Cycle proposes that the aurora is driven by magnetic field reconnection in the magnetosphere. Newly closed field lines contract back toward earth, catapulting particles down toward earth. The most impressive auroras form when the magnetic field of the solar wind is directed south, opposite the earth's field. The Solar Wind Clock Angle and the Cross Polar Cap Potential are indicative of expected auroral activity.

The AuroraMAX project, run by volunteers, is an outreach group which also manages a number of cameras, including a webcam. Early photography examined the spectral lines associated with the aurora. Confusion occurred as some of the spectral lines are "forbidden", only being seen in plasmas. Eventually it became clear that the green color came from oxygen - red above 200 km, but green down to 150 km, while the blue, violet and magenta are due to nitrogen below 100 km. When the aurora is seen to the south, more color is seen, while further north the it appears largely green. Geomagnetic storms enhance the auroras, but there is much about the physics that remains unknown.

Auroral activity relates to the number of sunspots. Solar activity increases the number of cosmic rays, creating more carbon-14. Thus a record of solar activity is imprinted in trees, showing a reduction in the aurora from the mid-fifteenth century to the mid-sixteenth century. Deduced greater activity in the twelve and thirteenth centuries is supported by a jump in observations in historical records.

The Sun's effects on the near-Earth environment are known as space weather, comprising solar flares, radiation storms and geomagnetic storms. While not generally noticed, large events can be massively disruptive to human activities. These storms can interfere with aircraft movements, GPS location and power systems. Solar storms are categorized with a "K" index; planetary effects are given a Kp index and a G index by NOAA. These indicies can be used to gauge likely aurora activity.
Profile Image for Sarah.
74 reviews2 followers
May 30, 2019
I am obsessed with Nordic countries, Winter, and the Northern Lights. I recently travelled to Iceland but in May, where I had a slim chance of seeing the Aurora. The next best thing was Perlan, who provide a magical planetarium experience which explain the science and mystery behind the Aurora and her sisters in the universe.

I wanted to read this book for these reasons and to discover Melanie’s journey across the Arctic Circle in search of the lights. I really loved the travelogue parts, which provide insights of various cultures and their own folklore and myths told by their ancestors about the Aurora and what they thought it was/meant. It truly sounds magical and I need to experience the spirituality that comes with it.

I am not very scientifically inclined, which resulted in me skipping most of the ‘Forecasting Space Weather’ chapters. I tried, but I didn’t really know what was going on - it is confusing which didn’t make it enjoyable to read. Sorry Melanie - it’s me, not you.

Overall, I’m glad I picked up this book and expanded my knowledge and non-fiction choices!
Author 3 books1 follower
October 23, 2024
I had a difficult time getting through this one, but I'm giving it three stars because there's very little out there about the northern lights.

This book is more of a travelogue or "extended magazine article" than a scientific overview of the aurora. Yes, there are valuable nuggets here that teach about the lights, but most of it concerns the author's experiences in the various locations she chose to make her study. In several of them, she barely even saw the northern lights. I would have preferred a book written by someone who's been studying (or at least watching) them for years instead of a report about what others told her concerning them.

A large portion of the book, such as her ski trip in Svalbard and visit with a painter (who doesn't paint the lights) had nothing to do with the aurora. I really had the sense after reading this that the author was more interested in reporting about the lights than truly studying them.
Profile Image for Luke Ashford.
2 reviews1 follower
March 3, 2025
This would make an excellent two-part BBC 2 documentary. It's a travelogue which hides science, history of science, history of expeditions, and an introduction to different cultures of the far north.

The book is generally a gentle read, and carries the author's personality well. In places there is a serious effort to dig into the scientific details, which I liked. At times some of the writing felt a little too chatty or informal, though, which broke the tone of the prose.

I am quite envious of the author's expeditions and travels as part of this work, and I certainly share her appreciation for our planet!
Profile Image for Deb DA Gerrald.
104 reviews
October 12, 2019
I began this charming book on a trip to see the 2017 solar eclipse over the United States. I met the author at a winery where we witnessed the event. She is delightful and well-versed in the mechanics of the aurora, and as I have long had seeing the Northern Lights on my bucket list, I was pleased to have the book from her. The book blends personal experience with the science of aurorae, and I found it easy to read and understand. Some of her experiences in “hunting or chasing” aurora are amazing.
Profile Image for Matt Heavner.
1,136 reviews15 followers
February 20, 2020
Good read, but I felt that the narrative was too dilute. The book covers everything from the aurora (obviously!) to love of adventure and the Arctic, Arctic culture and challenges, climate change, basic physics, spectroscopy, plasma physics and beer/hops (and more). Good, but it didn't quite tie together enough. In some ways this felt a bit like a Bill Bryson book, but not at the same humorous insight level.
Profile Image for Melanie.
2 reviews2 followers
February 21, 2018
Fantastic

I read some of the reviews of the book first, and am glad I didn't listen. I thought the book was very informative from a scientific perspective, and found out what I wanted to know about how and why auroras exist. The book also includes inspiring philosophical notions and cultural references about how civilizations have understood auroras throughout the ages.
Profile Image for Olwyn Ducker.
35 reviews5 followers
May 8, 2017
I dont profess to understand half of what was wsritten in this very well presented book. True tales with lovely photographs. dr Melanie Windridges tale of her quest to see the Northern lights. well written and presented, a good read.
2 reviews
October 21, 2017
I found this book very interesting, even though I didn't understand half of it. There were things I've never thought of before, like how space weather affects satellites, power grids, and everyday life. I really recommend this book if you have any interest in the aurorae.
Profile Image for Aaron.
172 reviews11 followers
February 16, 2019
Although the Northern Lights is a subject that I am interested in, sadly, I realize that I'm just not really interested in the scientific part of it. I hope that one day, I will re-read again and hopefully, I will have an different opinion about it.
Profile Image for Eric George.
49 reviews31 followers
July 30, 2020
At times interesting and insightful. Maybe a bit switching in between topics and jumping right into complex explanations. Maybe unfullfiled a little bit by all the unknown factors and the challenge to explain a complex matter in a comprehensive way.
Profile Image for Alicia Pearson.
124 reviews3 followers
February 1, 2018
Faintly interesting but it didn't really hold my interest as much as I was hoping.
Profile Image for Skord.
80 reviews
June 1, 2019
Not bad but there is far too much travelogue and not enough science. The travel writing is OK but should really be in a separate book.
Profile Image for Leilani.
338 reviews2 followers
May 21, 2020
This was a well-written book - if you like science. For me it was too heavy on the physics, I enjoyed the short sections on the history of the aurora, mais I skimmed over much of this book.
Profile Image for DeterminedStupor.
205 reviews
dnf
July 14, 2022
Status 2022-07-14:
have read only up to Chapter 2 Norway – Culture, Spirituality and Otherworldliness (p. 56).
Profile Image for Thomas.
30 reviews9 followers
March 16, 2023
Part science, part travelogue, and written playfully.
Profile Image for Anu.
34 reviews
September 12, 2024
Loved the personal touch but not the information part(was little too much for a beginner like me) 3.7ish......
Profile Image for Lady.
1,100 reviews17 followers
June 29, 2017
An enjoyable insightful take, however it does feel a bit disjointed and a little too technical in areas but still a great book thanks for writing it :)
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