A professor from Kasetsart University has offered an explanation to the mysterious green lights that were seen above Kaeng Krachan National Park this past weekend.
On Friday and Saturday night visitors to Khao Phanoen Thung – the national park’s highest point – were treated to an unusual display of lights in the night sky.
The skies were lit with a mysterious green glow that prompted comparisons to the famed northern lights.
A photographer who had been camping at Khao Phanoen Thung shared photos of the lights, stirring a buzz on social media as people sought explanations for the spectacle.
Discussions on the origins of the lights ranged from extraterrestrial activities to the Northern lights and unknown atmospheric phenomena.
However, the mystery of the green lights was demystified by Virachai Phuthawong, a professor from Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Image: Kananak Sookjai / เขาพะเนินทุ่ง อุทยานแห่งชาติแก่งกระจาน จ.เพชรบุรี
According to the academic, the source of the lights is not celestial but rather maritime, with lights essentially coming from boats fishing for squid.
Situated near the boundary of Myanmar, Khao Phanoen Thung’s unique geographical position is such that it lies adjacent to both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
This time of year sees a surge in the squid population in the region.
Fishing boats, capitalizing on this seasonal bounty, utilize intense green lights to attract the squid.
These lights, specifically engineered to emit wavelengths within the 495 to 570 nanometer range, mimic the appearance of plankton, a primary food source for squid.
The light from the sheer number of boats out fishing for squid can be seen from the night sky, creating an accidental light show for the unsuspecting public.
Image from NASA showing green lights from fishing boats in the Gulf of Thailand and Anadaman Sea