Aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, is a mesmerizing natural phenomenon which has captivated people since ancient times.
This breathtaking display of lights in the night sky is the result of the interaction between the magnetic field of the Earth and the charged particles emitted by the Sun. In a recent study, it was revealed that this light display also indicates the current condition of the polar vortex.
Changes in Polar Vortex
Energetic particle precipitation from space has been known to cause ozone layer depletion. This intensifies the Earth's polar vortex, a strong wind which blows from west to east around the polar region during winter months. When the polar vortex is intensified, it enhances westerly winds at the surface, creating a mild winter season in the region, particularly in northern Europe and Finland.
During the winter season when there is weak particle precipitation, it causes the polar vortex to weaken. As it breaks down completely, it enables cold Arctic air to flow south. At this time, Finland and Northern Europe experience cold spells.
The polar vortex has already broken down this current winter season, and it is predicted to break again in the coming days. Computer models had forecasted the likely break-up of the polar vortex during the winter last summer.
READ ALSO: Northern Lights Explained: What Causes Aurora Borealis?
Effect on Winter Temperature
Prevailing weather conditions are known to have a significant effect on electricity consumption and energy use in European countries. This raises the question on how electricity consumption is affected by the particle precipitation from space through the polar vortex.
For the first time, this concern has been addressed by the Space Climate Research Group at the University of Oulu in Finland. This institute has been studying aurora borealis on winter weather variations for quite some time., and the result of their recent study is discussed in the paper "Electricity consumption in Finland influenced by climate effects of energetic particle precipitation".
Led by Veera Juntunen, the research team used the comprehensive electricity consumption statistics taken from the Finnish Energy association from the 1990s to the present day. From these data, the researchers removed the variations unrelated to temperature, and they discovered the influence of particle precipitation on temperature and electricity consumption.
The connection was valid from the 1950s to the present, but only in winters when the equatorial stratospheric winds, known as QBO winds, blow from the east. The QBO effect has already been revealed in previous studies. It was suggested that when QBO winds are easterly, planetary waves are guided from the lower atmosphere into the polar stratosphere.
The same effect is observed on the temperature-dependent part of electricity consumption during the winter months from January to March. The variability related to energy particle precipitation was 14% of the average level of electricity consumption in Finland during winter. Meanwhile, it reveals up to 50% of the inter-annual variations in electricity consumption.
The result of the research suggests an interesting influence of space weather in society. By considering the particle precipitation from space, experts can predict winter temperatures and electricity consumption several months or years in advance.
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