Bill Ralph Emeritus Professor of Physics

 

Office: West Science Building rm 2511

Physics Office Phone:(906) 227 2450

e-mail: wralph@nmu.edu 

Although I retired from the Physics Department as of July 1, 1996 they have very kindly provided me with office space and computer facilities. My interests in computer applications and astronomy also continue.

 All-Sky Camera Project to study mid latitude aurora.  We have completed our project to study mid-latitude aurora.  Dr David Donovan and I along with NMU students are using the   All-Sky Camera,we have installed on the NMU campus, to capture images of the aurora.  We combine our images with images obtained by Boston University at their Millstone Hill observatory.  Correlations are then made of these images with satellite measurements of ion plasma and electron temperatures and density.

The likelihood of aurora occurrences can be determined based on Solar flares and the geomagnetic field fluctuations occurring as ejected plasma reaches the earth.  

See websites:
http://www.n3kl.org/sun/noaa.html and
http://www.sel.noaa.gov/pmap/index.html

Solar X-rays:

Geomagnetic Field:

Status

 

Status

 

 

From: http://www.n3kl.org/sun/noaa.html

This work is partially funded by the National Science Foundation grant # ATM-97000459 and Northern Michigan University.

Some of our  All Sky Images

A number of participating upper atmosphere research facilities provide access to displays of their data including:

SRI International in Menlo Park CA.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Physics Department is active in upper atmosphere research activity. Look at their graduate program for some interesting opportunities.

The Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks provides a number of interesting pages including a prediction of the location of auroral activity.

Also near Fairbanks is the Poker Flat research facility which has a number of instruments designed to study the arctic atmosphere and ionosphere. Poker Flat also prvides a map of where aurora will be visible, including the option of customizing the map to any location. They also provide an adventure page for young scientists to explore.

A picture of aurora over Circle Alaska was made by Dick Hutchinson . Also look at his web page for more spectacular aurora photos and information on how they were taken.


Big Blow:
On Saturday October 23, 1999 Lake Superior was churned up with one of its famous Fall Storms.


Research on Lake Superior by Dr. Elise Ralph
 
Elise Ralph Research Interests
Drifter information

 

wralph@nmu.edu
revised 5/22/04