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Charged particles from the Sun collide with the Earth's polar magnetic field. In December, the Earth is tilted towards the Sun, so more particles can collide along the North Pole. The same happens in the Southern Hemisphere in the Summer. Also, Northern lights (and their Southern lights counterpart Aurora Australis can occur at any time, usually right after a good coronal mass ejection from the Sun. December in the Northern hemisphere is usually a good time for clear, long nights and personal introspection, we tend to look up more often therefore making that particular observation.
Back to the question: what we see as Northern lights is light being emitted from molecules in the upper atmosphere, mostly Nitrogen and Oxygen, with many others mixed in. The color we see depends on which gas or compound is doing the emitting. The cause of the light is high energy particles trapped in the Earth's magnetic field being pushed around by a large scale disturbance of that field, usually a CME. If you get the NASA channel on cable or satellite they sometimes show a really cool video about the bizarre chain of events that actually cause the lights. The whole answer is actually just as fascinating as the lights themselves (yep, I'm a real nerd). If you don't want to wait for the TV, a couple of links about the IMAGE and Polar satellites to get started are posted below.
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In what sphere do the northern lights occur?
The Northern Lights occur in the northern hemisphere, in the ionosphere, the highest level of the atmosphere.
Do the Northern lights occur in the troposphere?
No they never occur in the Troposphere(:
Does the arctic tundra get the northern or southern lights?
The arctic tundra gets the northern lights, or aurora borealis. The southern lights, or aurora australis, occur in high southern latitudes.
What time of the year do the northern lights appear?
In December, near Christmas
What Countries are the Northern Lights located in?
The Northern Lights occur in space, and are visible from many countries north of the Equator: the farther north, the higher your chances of seeing them.
In what sphere do the northern lights occur?
The Northern Lights occur in the northern hemisphere, in the ionosphere, the highest level of the atmosphere.
Do the Northern lights occur in the troposphere?
No they never occur in the Troposphere(:
What layer does not contain the northern lights?
The Northern Lights occur in the ionosphere, the highest level of the atmosphere, so all the others layer usually do NOT contain the Northern Lights.
Does the arctic tundra get the northern or southern lights?
The arctic tundra gets the northern lights, or aurora borealis. The southern lights, or aurora australis, occur in high southern latitudes.
When is northern lights and meteor on the same day?
You can have a meteor on any day and the northern lights can occur on any day, so it is hard to predict when both will happen on the same day.You can have a meteor on any day and the northern lights can occur on any day, so it is hard to predict when both will happen on the same day.You can have a meteor on any day and the northern lights can occur on any day, so it is hard to predict when both will happen on the same day.You can have a meteor on any day and the northern lights can occur on any day, so it is hard to predict when both will happen on the same day.You can have a meteor on any day and the northern lights can occur on any day, so it is hard to predict when both will happen on the same day.You can have a meteor on any day and the northern lights can occur on any day, so it is hard to predict when both will happen on the same day.You can have a meteor on any day and the northern lights can occur on any day, so it is hard to predict when both will happen on the same day.You can have a meteor on any day and the northern lights can occur on any day, so it is hard to predict when both will happen on the same day.You can have a meteor on any day and the northern lights can occur on any day, so it is hard to predict when both will happen on the same day.You can have a meteor on any day and the northern lights can occur on any day, so it is hard to predict when both will happen on the same day.You can have a meteor on any day and the northern lights can occur on any day, so it is hard to predict when both will happen on the same day.
Solstice that that occur in December in the northern Hemisphere?
It is the Winter Solstice
What time of the year do the northern lights appear?
In December, near Christmas
What Countries are the Northern Lights located in?
The Northern Lights occur in space, and are visible from many countries north of the Equator: the farther north, the higher your chances of seeing them.
What country do the northern lights occur in?
Antartica, alaska, parts of USA, canada
Where do the Northern Lights occur?
In the upper atmosphere usually in latitudes above 50 degrees.
What time can you see the northern lights tonight in South Dakota?
They do not occur in South Dakota.
What are Brilliant light displays that occur in the ionosphere?
The dancing lights of the ionosphere are known as auroras. In the Northern Hemisphere they are called the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. In the Southern Hemisphere they are known as the Aurora Australialis or Southern Lights.
