When engineers were designing the Trans-Alaska Pipeline they had to account for the current produced by the Aurora. It is measurable 6” below the surface of the ground and could play havoc with the pipeline sensors that monitored the flow of oil.
When I worked on the North Slope I witnessed the most amazing display of Aurora that I will ever see. I wound up laying on the ground looking straight up. Imagine being inside a glass dome with someone pouring fluorescent green paint over the top of it and it shimmered down to the horizon for 270*. It was +30* and calm so nobody froze that February night.
Of all my rotations to the slope, including 5 trips this past winter season I have yet to see them on the slope.
When I started working up there through the winter one of the main reasons was to see the lights.
Good thing there is the upcoming winter season, and beyond.
I’ll keep coming back.