AURORAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does auroral mean? 

• AURORAL (adjective)
  The adjective AURORAL has 2 senses:

1. of or relating to the atmospheric phenomenon auroras

2. characteristic of the dawn

  Familiarity information: AURORAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AURORAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to the atmospheric phenomenon auroras

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

a prominent green line in the spectrum of the auroras is called the 'auroral line'

Pertainym:

aurora (an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands of light caused by charged solar particles following the earth's magnetic lines of force)

Derivation:

aurora (an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands of light caused by charged solar particles following the earth's magnetic lines of force)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characteristic of the dawn

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

auroral; aurorean

Context example:

a dim auroral glow

Pertainym:

dawn (the first light of day)

Derivation:

aurora (the first light of day)

 Context examples 

Observing how the tests caused aurora, can provide insight into what the natural auroral mechanisms are too.

(Space Weather Events Linked to Human Activity, NASA)

But a new study suggests they succeed in creating powerful auroral displays, similar to the kind seen around the magnetic poles on Earth.

(Powerful Auroras Found at Brown Dwarf, NASA)

The highest energies that we are observing within Jupiter's auroral regions are formidable.

(Jupiter's Auroras Present a Powerful Mystery, NASA)

These auroral emissions are caused by particles that pick up energy, slamming into atmospheric molecules.

(First Science Results from NASA’s Juno Mission, NASA)

By comparing the location where the falling ions were observed with data from Hubble, the scientists were able to pin down the precise location of the auroral zone, which will help them solve mysteries, such as what causes the auroras.

(Fresh Results from NASA’s Galileo Spacecraft 20 Years On, NASA)

When analyzing the data, the scientists noticed that during its first Ganymede flyby, Galileo fortuitously crossed right over Ganymede’s auroral regions, as evidenced by the ions it observed raining down onto the surface of the moon’s polar cap.

(Fresh Results from NASA’s Galileo Spacecraft 20 Years On, NASA)

This is 10 to 30 times higher than the largest auroral potentials observed at Earth, where only several thousands of volts are typically needed to generate the most intense auroras — known as discrete auroras — the dazzling, twisting, snake-like northern and southern lights seen in places like Alaska and Canada, northern Europe, and many other northern and southern polar regions.

(Jupiter's Auroras Present a Powerful Mystery, NASA)