If we think of Scandinavian countries and lights in the sky, the first thing that comes to mind is the Northern Lights. However, at some point in Norway there are others, much more mysterious: The fires of Hessdalen.
Is located in valley bearing his name is light phenomenon which, as explained in IFLScienceas described by the inhabitants of the area at least since the 1930s.
The lights of Hessdalen are highly variable, sometimes crossing the sky quickly during few secondswhile others remain stable for one hour. Sometimes they move in one direction, and sometimes they follow a random path. But what they almost always agree on is its large size, which locals describe as something like a car. In addition, they agree that they are in a very small part of the total 12 kilometers long. What is generally not clear is what they are caused by. Although there are very interesting hypotheses.
Burning mountain dust
In the valley where the fires of Hessdalen are formed, there are several mines, some of which are working, and some have already closed. For this reason, one hypothesis points to the incomplete combustion of airborne dust during mining.
Particularly large deposits scandium and when in contact with oxygen, it could cause such an effect. However, this has not been fully demonstrated.
radon splitting
We are all surrounded in one way or another. radon. In fact, he is responsible for most natural radiation background to which we are constantly exposed. However, radon levels vary from region to region.
Norway is known to have one of the highest concentrations of radon. highest in Europe. Moreover, it is especially high in the valley, in which Hessdalen lights. For this reason, a study was published in 2010 that hypothesized that it is the decomposition of this gas in the atmosphere that causes the glow phenomenon.
The battery that charges the Hessdalen lanterns
Undoubtedly, the most curious hypothesis about this phenomenon is that which considers that the Hessdalen valley behaves like a giant battery. It has a river that separates two lands of different composition. On the one hand, he is rich zinc and iron. And, to another, copper. Therefore, we would have anode and cathoderespectively.
However, in order for the electrons to circulate, as in a battery, there must also be an electrolytic solution through which they can move. This part was missing at first, but was eventually found where it could have been. It is known that local mines also large amount of sulfurso it may well be that pours sulfuric acid in the river that crosses the valley.
Anomalies in the region’s magnetic field have been found that are consistent with those of the giant battery. And maybe this stack could make it easier plasma formationwhich, in turn, would give rise to these characteristic lights in the sky.
The origin is not clear; but no doubt it is a curious phenomenon. Next to him, the northern lights seem too conventional.
Source: Hiper Textual
