explaining the polar lights
By zteve t evans
In the skies over the polar regions of our planet an amazing natural phenomena occurs that produces the most spectacular and amazing light shows known as the Aurora borealis (Northern lights) and the Aurora australis ( Southern lights).
Polar lights
The lights appear over the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. Those that appear over the magnetic pole of the northern hemisphere are known as the northern lights or Aurora borealis. Those that appear over the magnetic pole of the southern hemisphere are known as the southern lights or Aurora australis.
These displays in the night skies are one of nature’s most stunning shows. The lights appear in many colors, but shades of pale green and pink are the most common. However, many shades of yellow, green, red, blue and violet have been seen in many differing and wonderful forms.
At times they may appear in scattered clouds of light, or in patches. Sometimes there are arcs and streamers, or curtains of rippling light moving across the sky. Or they may appear as rays of different colored lights that flare across the night firmament.
The lights appear over the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. Those that appear over the magnetic pole of the northern hemisphere are known as the northern lights or Aurora borealis. Those that appear over the magnetic pole of the southern hemisphere are known as the southern lights or Aurora australis.
These displays in the night skies are one of nature’s most stunning shows. The lights appear in many colors, but shades of pale green and pink are the most common. However, many shades of yellow, green, red, blue and violet have been seen in many differing and wonderful forms.
At times they may appear in scattered clouds of light, or in patches. Sometimes there are arcs and streamers, or curtains of rippling light moving across the sky. Or they may appear as rays of different colored lights that flare across the night firmament.
North and south
Both the Northern and Southern lights are caused when particles of gas in the atmosphere above Earth collide with particles that arrive in the Earth's atmosphere from the sun. The different colors of the lights result from the kind of gas particles involved in the collision and their altitude.
Oxygen molecules around 60 miles above the planet produce a pale yellowish light. While oxygen at higher altitudes of 200 miles produces a red light. These all-red auroras are very rare.
Purplish red or blue light is produced when solar particles collide with nitrogen particles in the atmosphere.
Solar activity
The lights are connected with sunspot activity. Protons and electrons from the sun are carried by the solar wind into the earth's atmosphere where they collide with particles of gas.
The surface of the sun reaches temperatures of millions of degrees Celsius. At such high temperatures there are frequent collisions which are highly explosive throwing protons and electrons free of the sun's atmosphere. They escape through gaps in the magnetic field and by the rotation of the sun to be carried to the Earth by the solar wind.
Both the Northern and Southern lights are caused when particles of gas in the atmosphere above Earth collide with particles that arrive in the Earth's atmosphere from the sun. The different colors of the lights result from the kind of gas particles involved in the collision and their altitude.
Oxygen molecules around 60 miles above the planet produce a pale yellowish light. While oxygen at higher altitudes of 200 miles produces a red light. These all-red auroras are very rare.
Purplish red or blue light is produced when solar particles collide with nitrogen particles in the atmosphere.
Solar activity
The lights are connected with sunspot activity. Protons and electrons from the sun are carried by the solar wind into the earth's atmosphere where they collide with particles of gas.
The surface of the sun reaches temperatures of millions of degrees Celsius. At such high temperatures there are frequent collisions which are highly explosive throwing protons and electrons free of the sun's atmosphere. They escape through gaps in the magnetic field and by the rotation of the sun to be carried to the Earth by the solar wind.
Wonderful light shows
Most of the particles are deflected by the magnetic field of the earth, but not so at the North and South Poles where the Earth's magnetic field is at its weakest. Here, many of the solar particles enter the atmosphere and collide with the different gas particles in the atmosphere. This releases energy produces the wonderful light shows in the night skies.
Although the Aurora lights generally reach an altitude of 50 miles, they can reach as high as 400 miles above the Earth. They can be visible thousands of miles from the Polar Regions although some areas of the world never see them. For those that do the displays are one of the most marvellous natural events that humans can witness.
© zteve t evans
Most of the particles are deflected by the magnetic field of the earth, but not so at the North and South Poles where the Earth's magnetic field is at its weakest. Here, many of the solar particles enter the atmosphere and collide with the different gas particles in the atmosphere. This releases energy produces the wonderful light shows in the night skies.
Although the Aurora lights generally reach an altitude of 50 miles, they can reach as high as 400 miles above the Earth. They can be visible thousands of miles from the Polar Regions although some areas of the world never see them. For those that do the displays are one of the most marvellous natural events that humans can witness.
© zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright zteve t evans
Copyright zteve t evans