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Aurora visibility in Kiruna (Aurora appearance in the all-sky movie data (mpg) at IRF-Kiruna)

Summary: January-April 2005
Summary: August-December 2005

   Explanation of this page

List: Highlight - - - best days
List: Onset of active aurora
List: Day-to-day visibility


January-April 2005 (20050101-20050420: 110 days)

Observation rate was
month auroral arcauroral expansionlarge expansion    cloudy
2005.1 45% (14/31)42% (13/31)19% (6/31) 68% (21/31)
2005.2 61% (17/28)39% (11/28)14% (4/28) 43% (12/28)
2005.3 68% (21/31)48% (15/31)26% (8/31) 32% (10/31)
2005.4
(4.01-4.20)
50% (10/20)45% (9/20)15% (3/20) 65% (13/20)
Total
(110 days)
56% (62/110)40% (44/110)19% (21/110) 51% (56/110)

If tourist stayed 2 consecutive nights, chance to see aurora was
month auroral arcauroral expansionlarge expansion    cloudy
2005.1 68% (21/31)65% (20/31)32% (10/31) 68% (21/31)
2005.2 82% (23/28)64% (18/28)25% (7/28) 43% (12/28)
2005.3 81% (25/31)65% (20/31)39% (12/31) 32% (10/31)
2005.4
(4.01-4.20)
84% (16/19)79% (15/19)26% (5/19) 65% (13/20)
Total
(99 days)
78% (85/109)67% (73/109)31% (34/109) 51% (56/110)

If tourist stayed 3 consecutive nights, chance to see aurora was
month auroral arcauroral expansionlarge expansion    cloudy
2005.1 81% (25/31)77% (24/31)42% (13/31) 68% (21/31)
2005.2 93% (26/28)82% (23/28)36% (10/28) 43% (12/28)
2005.3 90% (28/31)77% (24/31)52% (16/31) 32% (10/31)
2005.4
(4.01-4.08)
89% (16/18)89% (16/18)39% (7/18) 65% (13/20)
Total
(99 days)
88% (95/108)81% (87/108)43% (46/108) 51% (56/110)



========================================================
Explanation (how the statistics is taken)
========================================================

(1) These monthly statistics are compiled from the day-to-day list below. The monthly statistics include the probability that we could see aurora at least once during a 2- or 3-day consecutive period.

(2) In the day-to-day list, one can find the past auroral activity over Kiruna during this season (time is given is in UT: Universal time, which is 1-2 hours behind Swedish time). The classification is made by looking at the all-sky camera data at IRF-Kiruna, which is converted to mpg movies (20 sec resolution):
http://titan.irf.se/misato/2005/

(3) The aurora is divided into two categories: very active ones (The first list: "aurora explosion") and quiet-moderate activity (The second list: "visible aurora"). The former is the one that all tourists should appreciate, whereas the latter is good for photographing.

(4) The active aurora ("aurora explosion") is further subdivided into large break-ups that cover the entire sky and minor activation/break-ups that cover a part of the sky. Listed is the time that such break-ups took place in UT (Universal time, which is 1-2 hours behind the Swedish local time). Minor ones are written in parentheses. The note "minor.north" is those activated only in the northern sky.

(5) In the second list ("visible aurora"), the time we could see some aurora is given. Note that aurora appears/disappears frequently during the time in the list.

(6) Due to manual eye-identification, the definition of "active" and "visible" is slightly more stringent in Fall 2004 than it was in Spring 2004.

(7) In the image, the directions are:

    up = north
left=east, right=west
    down=south

* Kiruna local time = UT + 1 hour ( ~ 2004.03.27)
* Kiruna local time = UT + 2 hour (2004.03.28 ~ 2004.10.30)
* Kiruna local time = UT + 1 hour (2004.10.31 ~ )

The real-time image (20 sec update) is also available at http://titan.irf.se/misato/abisko/sky_abisko/hoge2.html


========================================================
Highlight

2005-4-11: (dusk to dawn)
2005-4-6: (quick expansion)
2005-3-13: (breakup precursor)
2005-3-8: (breakup from east)
2005-3-7: (multiple breakup)
2005-3-6: (diffuse breakup)
2005-3-5: (breakup)
2005-2-17: (bule-purple line)
2005-2-7: (bule-purple line)
2005-1-11: (pulsation)

========================================================
List of active aurora
    Onset of aurora explosion (science & tourist information):
========================================================
Fall 2005
--------------------------------------------------------
Spring 2005

2005-04-19: (minor=2133, 2157 UT)
2005-04-17: (minor.north=2329 UT)
2005-04-15: (minor=2315 UT)
2005-04-14: (minor=2030, 2214 UT)
2005-04-11: 1947 UT, 2121, o=2147, o=2233, 2312 UT (minor=2012, 2038, 2056, 2216, 2343, 0009 UT)
2005-04-06: 2145 UT (minor=1950, 1958, 2008, 2255 UT)
2005-04-05: o=2037, 2312 UT (minor=2304 UT)
2005-04-04: (through cloud=2007, 2036, 2101 UT)
2005-04-02: (minor.north=2030, 2102 UT)

2005-03-31: (minor=2016, 2112 UT)
2005-03-25: 2130 UT (minor=1911, 1933, 2010, 2145 UT, mior.north=2022, 2110 UT)
2005-03-21: (minor=2107 UT, minor.north=2128, 2150 UT)
2005-03-20: -- another camera, (minor=2133 UT)
2005-03-19: -- another camera, (minor.north=2056, 2203 UT) --
2005-03-18: -- another camera, o=2023 UT, 2233 UT, 2343 UT --
2005-03-16: (through cloud=2258 UT, minor=2010, 2233 UT, minor.north=1900 UT)
2005-03-15: (minor=2226 UT, minor.north=2134, 2321 UT)
2005-03-14: 2230 UT (minor=2242, 2254, 2301, 2311 UT)
2005-03-13: o=2211 UT (minor=2039, 2100, 2126, 2248, 0013, 0051, 0208, 0250 UT)
2005-03-08: o=2005 UT, 2221 UT (minor=1826, 1856, 1906, 1930, 1940, 1956, 2017 UT, through cloud=0246 UT)
2005-03-07: 1750 UT, o=2039 UT (minor=1744, 2018 UT)
2005-03-06: o=1823 UT, 2139 UT (minor=1813, 1845, 1904, 1924, 1954, 2124, 2156, 2329, 0005, 0032, 0056, 0119, 0149, 0212, 0228 UT)
2005-03-05: o=1953 UT, 2141 UT (minor=1920, 2033, 2057, 2120, 2208 UT)
2005-03-01: (minor=2132, 2155 UT, minor.north=2004, 2047, 2114 UT)

2005-02-28: (minor.north=2139, 2209 UT)
2005-02-27: (minor.north=1946, 2014 UT)
2005-02-25: (minor=1727, 1751, 2011, 2105, 2128, 2334, 0038 UT)
2005-02-22: (most likely minor aurora around 22 UT, but no data)
2005-02-17: 2220, o=2252, 2334, 0017, o=0058 UT (minor=2214, 2242, 2352, 0005, 0051, 0137, 0153 UT)
2005-02-16: (through cloud=2002, 2057 UT)
2005-02-15: (minor.north=2014 UT)
2005-02-14: (minor=2002, 2045, 2108, 2126, 2232 UT)
2005-02-11: 2044 UT (minor=2117, 2131, 0016 UT, minor.north=2147, 0046 UT)
2005-02-08: 1750, 2108 UT (minor=1725, 1741, 2204, 0040, 0105, 0351 UT)
2005-02-07: o=1839, 2219, 2259, 0314 UT (minor=1711, 1831, 0239, 0306 UT, through cloud=2214 UT)
2005-02-06: (minor=1905, 1920, 0117, 0252, 0316 UT)

2005-01-31: (minor.north=1923, 1945 UT)
2005-01-30: (minor.north=0205 UT)
2005-01-29: 1837, 2141 UT (minor=2131 UT, minor.north=1830, 1925, 1937 UT)
2005-01-23: 2007 UT (minor.north=2052, 2150, 2333 UT)
2005-01-21: (through cloud=0523 UT)
2005-01-19: (minor.north=1656 UT)
2005-01-16: (through cloud=0021, 0202 UT)
2005-01-15: (minor=1917, 2002 UT, 0005 UT, minor.north=1705, 1949 UT)
2005-01-14: 2025, o=2243 UT (minor=2015 UT, minor.north=2343, 2358, 0323 UT)
2005-01-13: 1939, 2155, 2202 UT (though cloud=1649, 1707 UT)
2005-01-11: 2055, o=2303 UT, 0315 (minor=2118, 2155, 2222, 2243, 0254, 0329, 0341 UT)
2005-01-05: (minor=1937, 2012, 2129, 2223 UT, mior.north=2053 UT)
2005-01-01: 1839, 2236 UT (minor=1743, 1818, 1828, 2045, 0023, 0046, 0055, 0113, 0138 UT, minor.north=1730 UT)


========================================================
Day-to-day list
    Visible aurora activity (science & tourist information, D=strong diffuse):
========================================================
Fall 2005

--------------------------------------------------------
Spring 2005

2005- 4-23~24: no aurora = end of season
2005- 4-22~23: 2155 (only a few minutes)
2005- 4-21~22: mostly cloudy / no aurura
2005- 4-20~21: cloudy
2005- 4-19~20: 2130-2215 UT
2005- 4-18~19: mostly cloudy
2005- 4-17~18: 2315-2335 UT
2005- 4-16~17: cloudy
2005- 4-15~16: patchy cloud / 2310-2340 UT
2005- 4-14~15: 2010-2040 & 2110-2135 & 2155-2255
2005- 4-13~14: cloudy (through cloud 2145-2215 UT)
2005- 4-12~13: cloudy
2005- 4-11~12: 1940-0115 UT
2005- 4-10~11: cloudy
2005- 4-09~10: cloudy
2005- 4-08~09: cloudy
2005- 4-07~08: cloudy
2005- 4-06~07: 1925-2020 & 2120-2340 UT
2005- 4-05~06: 2030-2105 & 2240-2345 UT
2005- 4-04~05: cloudy (through cloud 2007-2016 & 2036-2040 & 2101-2105 UT)
2005- 4-03~04: cloudy
2005- 4-02~03: lim=2005-2120 & lim=2205-2210 & lim=2230-2250 UT
2005- 4-01~02: cloudy

2005- 3-31~01: 2010-2140 & 2110-2130 UT / cloudy after 23 UT
2005- 3-30~31: lim=1950-2005 UT / otherwise no aurora
2005- 3-29~30: light cloud (faintly through cloud 2316-2318 UT) or no aurora
2005- 3-28~29: cloudy
2005- 3-27~28: cloudy (faint through cloud 2030-2032 UT)
2005- 3-26~27: cloudy
2005- 3-25~26: 1910-2400 UT
2005- 3-24~25: cloudy
2005- 3-23~24: cloudy
2005- 3-22~23: cloudy
2005- 3-21~22: 2000-2210
2005- 3-20~21: -- mechanical error -- (yes 2100-2315 UT)
2005- 3-19~20: -- mechanical error -- (yes 2050-2210 UT)
2005- 3-18~19: -- mechanical error -- (yes all night)
2005- 3-17~18: mostly cloudy (through cloud 2145-2155 UT)
2005- 3-16~17: 1810-1930 / light cloud after 20 UT / 2010-2020 & 2035-2040 & 2050-2105 & 2155-2205 & 2225-2315 UT / cloudy after 23 UT
2005- 3-15~16: lim=2100-2140 & 2225-2240 & 2320-2335 UT
2005- 3-14~15: 1815-1840 & 2230-0020 UT
2005- 3-13~14: 1815-1845 & 2020-2300 & 0010-0030 / D=2330-0330 UT
2005- 3-12~13: lim=2325-2330 UT / otherwise no aurora
2005- 3-11~12: lim=2200-2215 UT / otherwise no aurora
2005- 3-10~11: cloudy
2005- 3-09~10: cloudy
2005- 3-08~09: 1810-2250 / D.pulsation=2250-02 UT / cloudy after 2 UT (through cloud 0220-0255)
2005- 3-07~08: cloudy until 1740 / 1735-1810 & 1940-2110 UT & 2225-2235 / cloudy after 2230
2005- 3-06~07: patchy cloud all night / 1800-2230 & D=2300-0400 UT
2005- 3-05~06: mostly cloudy / 1920-2300 UT / cloudy after 2300 (through cloud 0015-0025)
2005- 3-04~05: 2005-2100 / cloudy after 23 UT
2005- 3-03~04: cloudy until 02 UT / no aurura
2005- 3-02~03: 2035-2105 & 2235-2335 UT
2005- 3-01~02: 1940-2220 UT / D=2220-03 UT

2005- 2-28~01: 2020-2250 UT / light cloud after 00 UT
2005- 2-27~28: 1930-2105 & 2130-2145 & 2315-2325 UT
2005- 2-26~27: 1720-1940 UT
2005- 2-25~26: 1705-1830 & 1910-1925 & 2005-2020 & 2045-2140 & 2225-2230 & 2255-2310 & 2330-2345 & 0030-0115 UT
2005- 2-24~25: mostly cloudy 18-22 UT / 2205-2220 & 2250-2340
2005- 2-23~24: mostly cloudy until 1900 UT / no aurora
2005- 2-22~23: 1930-1955 UT / no data after 2112 UT (shutdown)
2005- 2-21~22: cloudy until 0030 UT / no aurora
2005- 2-20~21: (Dome is covered by snow, but anyway mostly cloudy)
2005- 2-19~20: cloudy
2005- 2-18~19: cloudy
2005- 2-17~18: 2052-2115 UT / cloudy 2100-2200 / 2155-0030 / D.pulsation=0030-0405 / cloudy after 04 UT
2005- 2-16~17: cloudy until 03 UT (through cloud 1635-1700 & faintly 1738-1741 & 2013-2017 & faintly 2101-2105)
2005- 2-15~16: 2000-2020 & 2055-2105 UT / cloudy after 01 UT
2005- 2-14~15: 2000-2300 UT
2005- 2-13~14: cloudy (through cloud, faint, lim 1850-1900)
2005- 2-12~13: lim 1755-1840 UT
2005- 2-11~12: mostly cloudy 18-24 UT (through cloud 1920-2210) / 0010-0100 UT
2005- 2-10~11: cloudy
2005- 2-09~10: cloudy
2005- 2-08~09: 1650-1835 & 2025-0450
2005- 2-07~08: 1645-1920 UT / cloudy / 2210-2330 / D=0045- all night
2005- 2-06~07: 1730-1940 UT / cloudy (through cloud faint 2231-2253) / D.pulsation=2330-0330
2005- 2-05~06: cloudy until 18 UT / lim 1915-2010 & 0215-0330
2005- 2-04~05: partly cloudy 18-21 UT (faint, lim 2030-2036) / no aurora
2005- 2-03~04: cloudy until 19 UT / 2203-2212=lim / cloudy after 0130 UT
2005- 2-02~03: cloudy after 19 UT
2005- 2-01~02: cloudy after 23 UT

2005- 1-31~01: cloudy until 1935 UT / 1923-2000 UT / cloudy after 00 UT.
2005- 1-30~31: cloudy 18-24 UT / 0200-0215 UT
2005- 1-29~30: patchy cloud until 23 UT (through cloud 1815-1950 & 2115-2245 UT) / cloudy
2005- 1-28~29: cloudy
2005- 1-27~28: cloudy
2005- 1-26~27: cloudy
2005- 1-25~26: cloudy until 2140 / cloudy 24-03 UT
2005- 1-24~25: cloudy until 1920 / 2045-2200 UT / light cloud+moon
2005- 1-23~24: 1900-2355 UT / cloudy after 0130 UT
2005- 1-22~23: cloudy
2005- 1-21~22: cloudy (through cloud 0513-0600)
2005- 1-20~21: cloudy
2005- 1-19~20: cloudy until 1640 UT / 1640-1720 / cloudy from 1830 UT
2005- 1-18~19: cloudy (faint through cloud 1543-1551)
2005- 1-17~18: cloudy
2005- 1-16~17: cloudy until 02 UT (through cloud 2355-0100 UT) / D.pulsation=0100-0500 UT / cloudy
2005- 1-15~16: 1650-1725 / 1915-2015 / cloudy from 2330 UT (through cloud 0000-0030 UT)
2005- 1-14~15: 1950-23 UT / D.pulsation=23-06 UT
2005- 1-13~14: patchy cloud untill 00 UT (1610-1710, 1730-1733, 1905-2030 UT through cloud) / 2115-2220 / D=2220-05 UT
2005- 1-12~13: cloudy
2005- 1-11~12: cloudy until 20 UT / 2030-2340 / D.pulsation=2340-0540 UT
2005- 1-10~11: cloudy
2005- 1-09~10: light cloud until 00 UT / no aurora
2005- 1-08~09: cloudy
2005- 1-07~08: cloudy
2005- 1-06~07: cloudy
2005- 1-05~06: 1935-2220 UT / cloudy
2005- 1-04~05: cloudy
2005- 1-03~04: cloudy
2005- 1-02~03: cloudy
2005- 1-01~02: 1715-0300 UT (cloudy until 19 UT & after 03 UT)