Entire worlds of untapped ambient soundscapes are broadcast naturally via radio during lightening storms and aurora (The Northern and Southern Lights) and as part of the Earth's magnetic-field, also called the Magnetosphere.

Unlike sound waves, which are vibrations of air molecules to which human ears are sensitive, natural radio waves are vibrations of electric and magnetic energy (electromagnetic waves). While these occur at the same frequencies as sound, humans and animals cannot hear them without a specialized radio receiver. But luckily for us, at least one tireless recording enthusiast seeks out these luminescent phenomena and preserves this little heard radio symphony as audio files on the internet.

Natural radio sound recordist Stephen P. McGreevy has devoted years recording and cataloging this “music of the magnetosphere.” In his sound collections Auroral Chorus, a playful and eerie symphony of whirrs, hisses, pops, whistles, and growls cascade in sonic splendor. McGreevy's other website, Space Weather Sounds also contains amazing photography and the largest collection of MP3's (free to download) of natural VLF (very low frequency) radio sounds.

Photo credit: Stephen P. McGreevy

[via BLDBLG]