The red-sky enigma over Svalbard in December 2002

• Main Authors: Sigernes, F., Lloyd, N., Lorentzen, D. A., Neuber, R., Hoppe, U.-P., Degenstein, D., Shumilov, N., Moen, J., Gjessing, Y., Havnes, O., Skartveit, A., Raustein, E., Ørbæk, J. B., Deehr, C. S.
• Other Authors: The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies Saskatoon (ISAS), Department of Physics and Engineering Physics Saskatoon, University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Canada (U of S)-University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Canada (U of S), Department of Bentho-pelagic processes, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung = Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research = Institut Alfred-Wegener pour la recherche polaire et marine (AWI), Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft = Helmholtz Association-Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft = Helmholtz Association, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), The Auroral Observatory, University of Tromsø (UiT), Department of Physics, Okayama University, Geophysical Institute Bergen (GFI / BiU), University of Bergen (UiB), Norwegian Polar Institute, Geophysical Institute Fairbanks, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: CCSD 2005
• Subjects: [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean; Atmosphere; [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences; Adventdalen; Longyearbyen; Norway; Ny-Ålesund; Svalbard; Ny Ålesund
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00317811; https://hal.science/hal-00317811v1/document; https://hal.science/hal-00317811v1/file/angeo-23-1593-2005.pdf

International audience On 6 December 2002, during winter darkness, an extraordinary event occurred in the sky, as viewed from Longyearbyen (78° N, 15° E), Svalbard, Norway. At 07:30 UT the southeast sky was surprisingly lit up in a deep red colour. The light increased in intensity and spread out across the sky, and at 10:00 UT the illumination was observed to reach the zenith. The event died out at about 12:30 UT. Spectral measurements from the Auroral Station in Adventdalen confirm that the light was scattered sunlight. Even though the Sun was between 11.8 and 14.6deg below the horizon during the event, the measured intensities of scattered light on the southern horizon from the scanning photometers coincided with the rise and setting of the Sun. Calculations of actual heights, including refraction and atmospheric screening, indicate that the event most likely was scattered solar light from a target below the horizon. This is also confirmed by the OSIRIS instrument on board the Odin satellite. The deduced height profile indicates that the scattering target is located 18?23km up in the stratosphere at a latitude close to 73?75° N, southeast of Longyearbyen. The temperatures in this region were found to be low enough for Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC) to be formed. The target was also identified as PSC by the LIDAR systems at the Koldewey Station in Ny-Ålesund (79° N, 12° E). The event was most likely caused by solar illuminated type II Polar Stratospheric Clouds that scattered light towards Svalbard. Two types of scenarios are presented to explain how light is scattered. Keywords. Atmospheric composition and structure (Transmissions and scattering of radiation; Middle atmospherecomposition and chemistry; Instruments and techniques) ? History of geophysics (Atmospheric Sciences; The red-sky phenomena)