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NLC observations 1995

Report by Veikko Mäkelä

Ursa Atmospheric Optics Section have recorded NLC observations since early 1980's. Earlier the observations have been published in paper reports. Since 1989 Reports have been published only in Ursa Minor bulletin of Ursa sections.

With verbal description, some numeric estimations have been used:

W	wideness	(1-5, 1=single forms, 5=all-sky)
I	intensity	(1-5, 1=faint, 5=remarkable bright)
S	structures	(I=veil, II=bands, III=billows, IV=whirls, 0=unknown, unclassified, S="knots", P="crossing streaks", V="net-like")
r	reliability	(0=unsure,1=quite sure, 2=sure)

Observers

Name              Code   Sites                         obs  neg

Jere Kahanpää     KAH    Helsinki
Veikko Mäkelä     MAK    Helsinki,Evijärvi,Kirkkonummi
Pekka Parviainen  PAR    Kustavi, Turku
Leo Rajala        RAJ    Jämsä
Markku Siljama    SIL    Mäntyharju

obs = NLC displays, neg = negative observations

May | June | July | August

30/31.5.

Note! Nights are rather light in Finland in June.

16/17.6.

I=4, W=3, S=I+II+III, r=1
Quite a large display, massive structure in N, long extension southwards.
KAH

18/19.6.

I=3, W=1?, S=II+III, r=1
Observed from moving car, but sure case. Probably quite a small display.
SIL

20/21.6.

I=1, W=2, S=I+II, r=1
Small area, mainly veil. Light sky disturbed observation.
PAR

25/26.6.

I=1, W=2, S=I+II+III, r=1
Veil area low in N. In the beginning some billows and band-like structures.
SIL

26/27.6.

2/3.7.

10/11.7.

I=3, W=2, S=I+II+III, r=1
Special observation from airplane above Atlantic Ocean. NLC visible already before the sunset! Two areas of NLC.
PAR

11/12.7.

13/14.7.

I=3, W=3, S=I+II+III+IV+k+s, r=2
Two quite a large area. Billows and whirls in NE, veil and bands in W. Not very bright, but quite complex display. Quite uniform reports from observers.
PAR,RAJ,SIL

14/15.7.

I=2, W=2, S=I+II+IV, r=2
Faint separate areas. Bands in NE, one band in W. Later more structure in eastern area. Quite uniform reports.
PAR,RAJ,SIL

15/16.7.

I=4, W=2, S=I+II+III, r=2
Two areas again. Mainly veil with some bands in W, IIa type bands in NE
PAR

16/17.7.

I=4, W=4, S=I+II+III+IV+V+s+n, r=2
Very complex display, all types, also lumpy amorfous V type. Band+whirl complex in NE. Several area extensions southwards. Get larger in the morning. Dynamic.
PAR,RAJ,SIL

17/18.7.

I=2, W=2, S=I+II+III+IV, r=2
Small area. Mainly band and veil in N.
RAJ,SIL

18/19.7.

I=5, W=5, S=I+II+III+IV+V+k+s+n, r=2
All sky display with all the structures. Also special structures. Dynamic and complex.
RAJ

19/20.7.

I=2, W=2, S=I+II, r=2
Small area with bands and veil in N-NE.
PAR,RAJ

20/21.7.

I=2, W=2, S=I+II, r=2
Two small areas. IIa band in NE and veil+band area in NW.
PAR,RAJ

23/24.7.

I=4, W=3, S=I+II+III+IV+k+s+n, r=2
Mainly band+billow type display, with whirls. Slightly separated in two ares. Bands as dominating structures. Streak crossing bands in eastern area. Uniform reports from observer.
MAK,PAR,RAJ,SIL

25/26.7.

I=4, W=3, S=I+II+III+IV+V+s, r=2
Bands dominating in N. Two or more separate areas. Intensity mainly 3, but in the morning occasionally even 4. NLC appeared after 0.45-1.00 local time.
PAR,RAJ

26/27.7.

I=4, W=3, S=I+II+III+IV+s+n, r=2
Three-part area, billows and bands in W, net-like billows in NE and strong band complex with crossing streaks in E.
MAK,PAR,RAJ

27/28.7.

28/29.7.

29/30.7.

I=4, W=4, S=I+II+III+IV+k+s, r=2
Moderate or large are. IIa and IIb bands dominating. Moving fast to SW. During night "a hole" without NLC appeared from east, later new NLC.
MAK,PAR,RAJ

30/31.7.

31.7./1.8.

1/2.8.

I=2, W=2, S=I+II+III+IV, r=2
IIa bands and billows with veil.
MAK,PAR,RAJ

2/3.8.

3/4.8.

I=4, W=2, S=I+II+s, r=2
Bands in N. Bright or moderate bright.
PAR,RAJ

4/5.8.

5/6.8.

I=3, W=1, S=I+II+IV, r=2
Bands and veil. Differencies in intesities from different observing places.
PAR,SIL

6/7.8.

7/8.8.

8/9.8.

I=2, W=2, S=I+II, r=2
Two part area. IIa and IIb bands in both areas. The western area larger.
PAR,RAJ

10/11.8.

11/12.8.

I=4, W=2, S=I+II+III+s, r=2
Moderate band+billow type display.
MAK,RAJ

12/13.8.

I=2, W=1, S=I+II+n, r=1
Separate NLC forms, one net-like structure.
PAR

13/14.8.

14/15.8.

15/16.8.

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