Dune aurora: survey from a citizen science database

Grandin, Maxime; Juusola, Liisa; Partamies, Noora; Bruus, Emma; Rautiainen, Joona; Lach, Donna; Jia, Jia; van de Kamp, Max; Karvinen, Eero; Kauristie, Kirsti; Hoppe, Theresa

doi:10.5194/angeo-44-855-2026

Articles | Volume 44, issue 2

https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-44-855-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-44-855-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 44, issue 2

Regular paper

| Highlight paper

|

27 Aug 2026

Regular paper | Highlight paper |

| 27 Aug 2026

Dune aurora: survey from a citizen science database

Maxime Grandin, Liisa Juusola, Noora Partamies, Emma Bruus, Joona Rautiainen, Donna Lach, Jia Jia, Max van de Kamp, Eero Karvinen, Kirsti Kauristie, and Theresa Hoppe

Data sets

Visually validated dune aurora observations from Skywarden between 2000 and 2025 M. Grandin and E. Bruus https://doi.org/10.57707/fmi-b2share.0n576-3rb80

Editorial statement

Dune aurora is a phenomenon which has only recently been reported in the scientific literature. This paper builds upon the earlier reports of this phenomenon by presenting the first statistical study of dune aurora. This work is interesting and valuable also because it draws on citizens' observations and insights. This will foster their interest in upper atmospheric phenomena at high latitudes, as well as in the scientific interpretation of these phenomena and future research.

Short summary

Dune aurora is an intriguing phenomenon recently discovered thanks to citizen science. It is a dim, diffuse auroral form exhibiting wave-like stripes of brighter emission. We carry out the first statistical study of dune aurora, using 308 observation reports submitted to the Skywarden database by citizen scientists from Europe, North America, and Oceania. We find that dunes are an evening phenomenon, most often reported in March and October and associated with currents in the auroral atmosphere.