Estimation of past solar and upper atmosphere conditions from historical and modern auroral observations

Abstract. On the basis of the analysis of the data of auroral observations at middle latitudes during low solar activity, and modern spectrophotometric research, the feasibility of their joint use for the estimation of the level of the solar activity during periods without instrumental measurements is discussed. In this paper an attempt is undertaken to determine quantitative information on solar activity by comparing the data of visual auroral observations with the modern parameter of their luminescence.