Across the Great Divide
Environmental Factors of Ghost Hunting: The Sun
“Morning Glory” (photo taken by R. Wolf Baldassarro)
The Sun can provide several states which affect a paranormal investigation, and these must be taken into account when conducting a serious analysis of parapsychological case studies.
The Earth is not the only body in our solar system to create a magnetic field; the Sun creates its own magnetic field that is dynamic, and can change location and intensity over time. The Sun also emits X-Rays, which are relatively high-energy photons. A stream of these photons has a very effective penetrating power.
When looking for paranormal activity, we know that the relationship between magnetism and electricity is explored through the use of an EMF detector to look for unexplainable spikes in the fields surrounding an area.
The first step to how these relate to solar flares is to look at what a sunspot is.
A sunspot is an area of the Sun that is cooler than the surrounding area due to a stronger magnetic field which doesn’t allow for the transfer of heat. This magnetic field forms below the surface, and extends out to the corona of the Sun appearing as a darker colored spot on the surface of the Sun.
During a sunspot, a solar flare can occur when plasma interacts with the magnetic fields of the sunspot and bursts outward. During these flares energetic particles, x-rays, and magnetic fields affect Earth as a geomagnetic storm.
The Earth’s magnetic field, called the magnetosphere, acts as a protective shield for the planet from stray magnetic fields and energetic particles. During the solar flares, when the plasma that is emitted from the Sun comes into contact with the magnetosphere, the plasma disturbs it, and is displayed as auroras- such as the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Astralis; otherwise known as the Northern and Southern lights.
During the bombardment of these fields, radio transmissions and power grids may be affected- usually as surges in energy. The extra magnetic forces at the disposal of paranormal entities may now allow for increased activity.
Sunspots are also noted to run in a cycle of frequency of visibility increasing and decreasing over time. These cycles run an average 10.8 years.
This may have a relationship to places of paranormal activity that seem to fade. If these places were fueled by increased magnetic fields from sunspot activity, it is possible that as the cycle decreases, then the catalyst for the paranormal activity decreases as well. This would mean that an area of high paranormal activity may die off and then return at a later time.
Fortunately, most of these particles are blocked by the magnetosphere and filtered by the atmosphere. It is theorized that ghosts and spirits might be able to use this constant shower of high energy particles as an energy source to manifest themselves.
Solar activity isn’t constant. The Sun has periods of higher intensity emissions at certain times more than others. Scientists have determined the Sun goes through a 20-year period of generally high solar activity, and then 20 years of relatively lower activity, then the cycle starts again. The Earth is currently in the middle of a 20 year up-cycle in solar activity.
When solar X-rays are in flux it is referred to as an Active burst. Scientists classify these according to their x-ray brightness. There are 3 categories: C-class flares are small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth; M-class flares are medium-sized and can cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth’s Polar Regions. Minor radiation storms sometimes follow an M-class flare; X-class flares are major events that can trigger planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms. Each category has nine subdivisions ranging from C1 to C9, M1 to M9, and X1 to X9 respectively.
A Mega Flare describes when an unprecedented solar x-ray event has occurred.
Solar X-ray Status Monitor is the scientific monitoring of solar x-ray activities on the sun.
A Solar Terrestrial Activity Report is a graphed comparison chart documenting solar cycles. The report includes info on sunspot numbers, solar fluctuations, and indexing for Earth’s geomagnetic fields. Increases in paranormal phenomena can be checked against this report to confirm if geomagnetic fields have increased. The figure below shows a series of solar flares recorded by NOAA satellites in July 2000:
There is an awesome freeware program I use, called Ghost Weather Station, which easily and effectively collects a lot of this data for quick recording while on site; by Jonathan Moore, it is available for download at wvghosts.com– so don’t get tricked by sites that ask for payment! This tiny program provides (with a working internet connection) the current lunar and weather conditions including the Moon phases. It will present Moon angle, percent of lumination, Julian Days, and lunation number; as well as the current Solar X-Ray and Geomagnetic Field status of the area after inputting the zip code.
For a free program this can’t be beat. I strongly suggest making a donation and downloading the program.
So, to sum it up- by noting solar activity during investigations we can determine whether or not there is, in fact, a clear correlation between increases in paranormal activity and solar activity.
Combining all of this information, along with the previous two installments on the Moon and other factors, we can clearly see that there is a wealth of accepted mainstream scientific fact that can be applied to paranormal research. It isn’t all just smoke and mirrors, or capturing anomalies on film or audio.
By taking these factors into account when you conduct your investigations, you not only have a means of backing up your findings with irrefutable science, but you bring a level of respect and class to yourselves and the field, thus setting yourself apart from the thrill seekers and amateurs.
Happy Hunting. See you next month when I give a run down of a couple local legends.
© 2011 R. Wolf Baldassarro/Deep Forest Productions