Authoritative account written for the general reader.

How did electrons in the high atmosphere and space around the Earth come to acquire their speeds and energies? This intriguing question lies at the heart of understanding how high-energy electrons create the spectacular displays of the ^IAurora Borealis and ^IAurora Australis. Electron Acceleration in the Aurora and Beyond explores the mysteries of these phenomena and others involving the acceleration of electrons in the magnetosphere, in the solar wind, at the Sun and in the Cosmos. This book presents a new approach to understanding this fascinating subject by treating the acceleration medium as a plasma. Using this new insight we can see that electron acceleration may well be caused by waves rather than steady potential differences. This unique approach is clearly explained in a lively and engaging style. Quantitative formulae, experiments, practical demonstrations and computer programs enable us to investigate for ourselves how the model works. The theory is further illustrated by comparing acceleration in space with particle accelerators in the nuclear physics laboratory (and even on the sports field!) Questions and exercises with answers are supplied to stimulate further thinking. ^IElectron Acceleration in the Aurora and Beyond is a thought-provoking book for graduate and post-doctoral space scientists.

Just over one hundred years ago Kristian Birkeland looked into the night sky of his native Norway and saw in the beautiful Northern Lights a mystery waiting to be solved. Determined to prove to the world his bold theory about the heavens above, this misunderstood genius began a quest that would take him from Norway's ice mountains to the deserts of Africa, and across a continent ravaged by war. It was a quest that alienated friends and family, ruined his health and sanity, and ended in his mysterious death in a Japanese hotel in 1917. Lucy Jago brilliantly tells the fascinating and tragic story of Kristian Birkeland, the man who saw in the night sky a secret that no one else could see, but who died trying to convince the world of his vision.

Entrenched until recently in Western aesthetics, Australian composers are now developing a functional cultural identity expressed through a distinctly nationalistic musical idiom. Its ongoing formation, inspired by Australias Aboriginal heritage and unique natural environment, seeks to distance the nations artistic developments from the geographically remote Occidental regions and emphasize its native cultures. Presently, however, mounting sociopolitical and ethical concerns surrounding the cultural borrowing between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples are problematizing the developing nationalistic idiom, as composers must determine whether the two groups share any legitimate connection beyond mere occupation of the same land, given their tense post-colonial history. Musicologist Beatrice Dalov traces the formation of the Southern Lands cultural identity while simultaneously considering its complex relationship with the nations First Peoples. She illuminates the origins, influences, and developments of Australian art music, from colonization (late eighteenth century) to the present day, interweaving the social, cultural, political, and economic forces that shaped (and often determined) its evolution. The history demonstrates that the complex processes of articulating a unique cultural identity began almost immediately after arrival of the first colonists and continues uninterrupted through today. Drawing on newly available archival material, key works, and personally conducted interviews with numerous contemporary composers, Dalov traces the history of the lands music, from scattered convict settlements and eventful contacts with Aboriginal peoples, to the formation of a national musical infrastructure, to todays thriving musical independence. She brings forward not only the most prominent composers and musicians of the last century, but also those who laid a crucial foundation and offered the first contributions toward a national idiom. A comprehensive history of the music of the Great Southern Land has been too long neglected by social historians and musicologists worldwide. Beatrice Dalov sets the record straight.

A New York Times-bestselling author explains how the physical world shaped the history of our species When we talk about human history, we often focus on great leaders, population forces, and decisive wars. But how has the earth itself determined our destiny? Our planet wobbles, driving changes in climate that forced the transition from nomadism to farming. Mountainous terrain led to the development of democracy in Greece. Atmospheric circulation patterns later on shaped the progression of global exploration, colonization, and trade. Even today, voting behavior in the south-east United States ultimately follows the underlying pattern of 75 million-year-old sediments from an ancient sea. Everywhere is the deep imprint of the planetary on the human. From the cultivation of the first crops to the founding of modern states, Origins reveals the breathtaking impact of the earth beneath our feet on the shape of our human civilizations.

Mindy Dwyer captures the magic of the Northern Lights in a story that is written like a legend passed down through generations. With her bright, luminous illustrations and clear language, Dwyer tells the story of Aurora, a young girl who takes a journey of discovery and collects the colors from the sky to comfort her. Full color.

This new book addresses a gap in the literature, offering an explanation of the aurora's causes, how the occurrence of major events may now be predicted, and how amateur observers can go about recording displays. This is the first serious book about aurora written for practical but non-professional observers. It provides a concise accessible description of the various auroral forms and how to record them, illustrated with color images of recent displays. It contains details of 'Space Weather' forecasting websites, how to interpret and use the information given on these, and how to anticipate auroral activity.