Man-Made Aurora 'Airglow' Along Alaska Road System Visible for Four Nights As High-Frequency Radio Experiments Push Through

During high-frequency radio tests, an artificial aurora "airglow" will color the night sky along the Alaska road systems for four nights.

'Airglow,' The Man-Made Aurora

Over the weekend, skywatchers along Alaska's road system may witness a stunning display of red or greenish "airglow" high in the ionosphere. This phenomenon, resembling the aurora, is a result of a unique four-day experiment at the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) in Gakona. The Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks explained that this airglow might be visible up to 300 miles from the HAARP facility.

Researchers are artificially creating an aurora using ground equipment to gain insights into the natural aurora. This research campaign occurred from Saturday through Tuesday. HAARP's instruments are designed to study the ionosphere, which lies 50 to 400 miles above Earth, acting as the boundary between our planet's surface and space. This region affects Earth-orbiting satellites, including the International Space Station, as it experiences dynamic changes in charged particles that can impact satellite orbits.

Moreover, the ionosphere plays a critical role in communication and navigation systems. Radio and GPS signals traverse this atmospheric layer or bounce off it to reach their destinations, and variations in ionosphere density and composition can disrupt these signals. By employing high-frequency radio pulses to excite ionospheric electrons, researchers simulate the natural occurrence of the northern lights caused by solar energy emitted from the sun.

Space Junk Solution

The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and several out-of-state research programs are collaborating on experiments at HAARP. These experiments aim to investigate ionosphere mechanisms responsible for optical emissions and explore how satellites can utilize ionospheric plasma waves for collision detection and avoidance.

One practical application of this research involves developing a novel approach to track space debris, such as remnants of old launch vehicles or spacecraft fragments trapped in Earth's orbit. HAARP's chief scientist, Paul Bernhardt, mentioned that traditional methods rely on optics and ranging radars, which cannot detect smaller debris. University scientists have proposed a new technique that involves measuring the electric fields surrounding moving space debris.

HAARP is located about 200 miles northeast of Anchorage and approximately 230 miles southeast of Fairbanks, two major population centers in the state. In a smaller-scale experiment in 2017, researchers used ground equipment to stimulate an artificial aurora the size of a thumbnail at arm's length, as reported by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The Geophysical Institute noted that the airglow's visibility angle depends on one's distance from HAARP, and it may be more visible when viewed from the side. HAARP Director Jessica Matthews emphasized that clear skies offer the best viewing conditions, presenting as a broad airglow cloud.

The experiments have a tentative schedule, but Matthews cautioned they could be rescheduled or canceled due to ionospheric and geomagnetic conditions. This research is funded by a $9.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation, aimed at advancing our understanding of the upper atmosphere and geospace.

Originally a military project, HAARP has been the subject of conspiracy theories. Since control shifted to the University of Alaska in 2015, they've held open-house events to dispel misconceptions.