No magic to green lights over Phetchaburi, says prof
The “green lights” illuminating the skies over Khao Phanoen Thung in Phetchaburi’s Kaeng Krachan National Park recently sparked a wave of curiosity over online communities.
However, Virachai Phuthawong, a professor from Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, lifted the mystery shrouding the lights, which were compared to the famous “northern lights”.
He explained that Khao Phanoen Thung is located close to Myanmar, with its boundary skirting the Andaman Sea on one side and the Gulf of Thailand on the other.
He explained that at this time when the season is transitioning from monsoon to winter, there is a boom in the squid population and fishing boats employ vivid green lights to ensnare their elusive prey.
The strategy behind using green lights for squid fishing lies in the marine creature’s perception of these lights as plankton or a source of food.
Consequently, they congregate around the light source and end up being trapped in nets.
Scientists have pinpointed the optimal wavelength range of these green lights, falling within the range of 495 and 570 nanometres, which they say is effective in attracting squid.
In stark contrast, the mesmerising “northern lights” or aurora borealis occur when solar disturbances triggered by the Sun’s gravitational influence on Earth’s magnetosphere generate Alfvén waves within the cosmic system. These waves, in turn, release high-speed electrons into the Earth’s atmosphere, culminating in the enchanting spectacle known as the northern lights.
