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Kristian Birkeland: The First Space Scientist (100 Years Anniversary)

Explore the life and work of Kristian Birkeland, the pioneer space scientist, who organized Arctic expeditions, developed the terrella laboratory apparatus, and proposed the solar origin theory of polar aurorae. Discover how his theories were disputed and later proven with direct evidence from satellite magnetometers. Join the XII International Crimean Conference "Cosmos and the Biosphere" in Alushta, Crimea, in October 2017 to learn more.

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Kristian Birkeland: The First Space Scientist (100 Years Anniversary)

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  1. Kristian Birkeland, the first space scientist (100 years Anniversary) ■ Birkelandorganizedthreeexpeditions in arcticregions for a directobservation and registration of the polaraurorae (northernlights) ■ he realized an originalapparatus for the silumations of aurorae in laboratory (terrella) ■ he was the first to plausiblyaddress the polsraurorae to electricalchargedparticles of solar origin Kristiana (now Oslo, Norway), 1867 - Tokyo (Japan), 1917 ■ the Birkeland “solar” theory was disputed in 50s and 60s by the English geophysical Sydney Chapman, who developed mathematical descriptions of current systems contained completely within the Earth ionosphere Giuseppe Bonacina (bonacina1940@gmail.com) ■ direct evidence of the Birkeland theory was established In the mid-sixtieswith the magnetometers on board of artificial satellites in the upper atmosphere. •  XII International Crimean Conference • “Cosmos and the Biosphere” • Alushta, Crimea, October 2-6, 2017 ■ Birkelandheld also industrial interests, with 60 patens in different subject area (electrical and chemical) 1

  2. threeexpeditions in arcticregions first expedition, February - March 1897 ■ itwas a «failure» for adverseweatherconditions and a lack of experience secondexpedition, September 1899 – April 1900 ■ two small mountain refuges in auroral zone ■ the results of the secondexpedition and the preliminarytheory of «solar» origin of the polaraurorae are reported in the book of K. BirkelandExpeditionNorvegienne1899-1900 (Norway, 1901) ■ results of the thirdexpedition and of the laboratoryexperiments are reported in the book of K. BirkelandThe Norvwegian Aurora PolarisExpedition 1902-1903 - On the cause of magneticstorms and the origin of terrestrialmagnetism (Norway, 1908) thirdexpedition, 1902-1903 ■ 4 stations in the auroral ring 1. Kaafjord (69° 56’ N), Norway 2. Dyrafjord (66° 15’ N), Iceland 3. Axeløen (77° 41’ N), SvalbordArchipelago 4. MatotchkinSchar (73° 16’ N), NovayaZemlya, Russia 2

  3. the «solar» origin of polar aurorae auroral ring Birkeland’soriginaldigramexplaining the origin of polaraurorae from solar wind ■ diameter 4000 km ■ latitude 60° - 70° N and S ■ height 100-150 km (ionosphere) alignedelectric currents (vertical) ■ light production from excitedoxigen and nitrogenmolucules in the air ■ more frequentaboutequinoxes auroral electrojet (horizontal) ■ planetconditions for aurorae: a magneticfield and a gaseousatmosphere (Earth, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus) laboratoryapparatus for auroraesimulations ■ a glasschamber with a high vacuumcontaining a source of cathoderays, simulating the Sun, and a magnetizedmetallicsphere (terrella), «piccola Terra», small Earth) simulating the Earth 3

  4. current polar aurorae mechanism solar wind ■ sporadicauroraeevents: from CME and flares ■ recurrentsauroraeevents: (about 27 days): from coronalholes electriccurrents in the Earth magnetosphere AlvEgeland, William J. Burke Kristian Birkeland - The first spacescientist Springer, 2005 Norwegian 200 kronerbanknotededicated to Kristian Birkeland 4

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