# Why did reports fall from about 20 a week in 1981–1984 to about 10–20 a year? · Hessdalen lights > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/questions/QST0D0NDP5M4JWN/why-did-reports-fall-from-about-20-a-week-in-19811984-to Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:38+00:00 --- **0** # Why did reports fall from about 20 a week in 1981–1984 to about 10–20 a year? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Do the Hessdalen lights include a natural phenomenon not yet explained, once known light sources are removed?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/questions/QST0D0NDN6C0EE5/do-the-hessdalen-lights-include-a-natural-phenomenon-not-yet)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters A real decline in occurrence would constrain the mechanism; a decline in reporting would not⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0NDDCC5EXB/30-years-of-research-on-the-hessdalen-phenomena-abstract)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0NDCMY7GSG/on-the-natural-battery-hypothesis-for-the-hessdalen-lights-a). ## Answers 3 [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/answers/ANS0D0NE156389F/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**Reporting fell with media attention, fewer investigators and a shrinking local population.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/answers/ANS0D0NE0DR3959/reporting-fell-with-media-attention-fewer-investigators-and) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**The phenomenon itself became rarer.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/answers/ANS0D0NDZY472MP/the-phenomenon-itself-became-rarer) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 2014[Strand et al.: the valley's population fell from about 200 in 1980 to about 120.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0NDDCC5EXB/30-years-of-research-on-the-hessdalen-phenomena-abstract)For: Reporting fell with media attention, fewer investigators and a shrinking local population. 1. 2026[Teodorani puts forward: the phenomenon itself became rarer.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0NDCMY7GSG/on-the-natural-battery-hypothesis-for-the-hessdalen-lights-a) 1. 2026[Teodorani puts forward: reporting fell with media attention, fewer investigators and a shrinking local population.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0NDCMY7GSG/on-the-natural-battery-hypothesis-for-the-hessdalen-lights-a) 1. 2026[Teodorani: witness counts within 0.1–5 km decline from double figures in the late 1990s to low single figures in the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0NDCMY7GSG/on-the-natural-battery-hypothesis-for-the-hessdalen-lights-a)For: The phenomenon itself became rarer. 1. 2026[Teodorani: tourism has increased, which should raise the number of potential witnesses.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0NDCMY7GSG/on-the-natural-battery-hypothesis-for-the-hessdalen-lights-a)Against: Reporting fell with media attention, fewer investigators and a shrinking local population. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/questions/QST0D0NDP5M4JWN/why-did-reports-fall-from-about-20-a-week-in-19811984-to%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/questions/QST0D0NDP5M4JWN/why-did-reports-fall-from-about-20-a-week-in-19811984-to%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/questions/QST0D0NDP5M4JWN/why-did-reports-fall-from-about-20-a-week-in-19811984-to%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/questions/QST0D0NDP5M4JWN/why-did-reports-fall-from-about-20-a-week-in-19811984-to%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/questions/QST0D0NDP5M4JWN/why-did-reports-fall-from-about-20-a-week-in-19811984-to%23add-source) Where it fits Hessdalen lights [**Do the Hessdalen lights include a natural phenomenon not yet explained, once known light sources are removed?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/questions/QST0D0NDN6C0EE5/do-the-hessdalen-lights-include-a-natural-phenomenon-not-yet)Key question · most likely no; the lights are misidentified vehicles, aircraft, astronomical objects and instrumental artefacts [Was the recurrent blinking light of the 2002 EMBLA survey an anomalous light-ball or car headlights?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/hessdalen-lights/questions/QST0D0NDNE61A6W/was-the-recurrent-blinking-light-of-the-2002-embla-survey-an)Answered · Car headlights on a private road about 11.5 km away. **Why did reports fall from about 20 a week in 1981–1984 to about 10–20 a year?** You're here · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]