Expert: Donald Rosenfeld - 9/18/2008

Question
Hello, Donald! I have a question concerning the ability of the sky to reflect an
image. Northern Lights were once thought by Scandinavians to be reflections
cast by large schools of herring swimming underwater. Is that really a stretch,
though? I mean, I'm no expert, but aren't clouds able to reflect light? If so,
could you elaborate and perhaps provide the scientific name for such a
phenomenon? Thanks!

Answer
Hi Hamoudy

Clouds are able to reflect light and do so frequently. Reflections from fish are some what of a stretch though.

An old Scandinavian name for northern lights translates as herring flash (sillblixt). It was believed that northern lights were the reflections cast by large swarms of herring onto the sky. In Inuit folklore, northern lights were the spirits of the dead.

For more, see:

http://www.lainio.com/enpages/aurora_borealis.html

http://www.plasma-universe.com/index.php/Aurora