Aurora borealis is caused by collisions between gaseous particles.
The Aurora Borealis and its southern counterpart the Aurora Australis are formed high in the atmosphere in the ionosphere, which is sometimes considered as part of the thermosphere, the outermost actual atmosphere. Above this layer, the exosphere has so few molecules that they can escape into space.(see the related question below)
The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is caused by the interaction between charged particles from the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. These particles collide with gases in the thermosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, causing them to emit light in various colors. The resulting displays of shimmering, dynamic lights are most commonly observed in polar regions.
The Aurora Borealis and its southern counterpart the Aurora Australis are formed high in the atmosphere in the ionosphere, which is sometimes considered as part of the thermosphere, the outermost actual atmosphere. Above this layer, the exosphere has so few molecules that they can escape into space.(see the related question below)
The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere, specifically in the thermosphere. When these high-energy particles collide with gases like oxygen and nitrogen, they excite these atoms, resulting in the beautiful light displays we see. The thermosphere, located between about 85 km to 600 km above the Earth's surface, plays a crucial role in this process as it contains the ionized particles necessary for the auroras to occur.
Charged particles from the Sun striking the upper atmosphere.
The Aurora Borealis and its southern counterpart the Aurora Australis are formed high in the atmosphere in the ionosphere, which is sometimes considered as part of the thermosphere, the outermost actual atmosphere. Above this layer, the exosphere has so few molecules that they can escape into space.(see the related question below)
The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is caused by the interaction between charged particles from the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. These particles collide with gases in the thermosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, causing them to emit light in various colors. The resulting displays of shimmering, dynamic lights are most commonly observed in polar regions.
The Aurora Borealis and its southern counterpart the Aurora Australis are formed high in the atmosphere in the ionosphere, which is sometimes considered as part of the thermosphere, the outermost actual atmosphere. Above this layer, the exosphere has so few molecules that they can escape into space.(see the related question below)
The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere, specifically in the thermosphere. When these high-energy particles collide with gases like oxygen and nitrogen, they excite these atoms, resulting in the beautiful light displays we see. The thermosphere, located between about 85 km to 600 km above the Earth's surface, plays a crucial role in this process as it contains the ionized particles necessary for the auroras to occur.
Charged particles from the Sun striking the upper atmosphere.
The "Northern Lights" (or Aurora Borealis) and their southern counterpart the Aurora Australis are formed high in the atmosphere in the ionosphere, which is sometimes considered as part of the thermosphere, the outermost actual atmospheric layer. Above this layer, the exosphere has so few molecules that they can escape into space.(see the related question below)
The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is caused by solar wind particles interacting with gases in Earth's atmosphere. Specifically, charged particles from the sun are drawn towards the Earth's magnetic poles, where they collide with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere, resulting in the colorful light display known as the aurora borealis.
In the upper mesosphere and the lower thermosphere, gas particles become electrically charged. Because these charged particles are called ions, this part of the thermosphere is called the ionosphere. In polar regions these ions radiate energy as shimmering lights called auroras, usually in latitudes above 50 degrees. The Aurora Borealis and its southern counterpart the Aurora Australis are formed high in the atmosphere in the ionosphere, which is sometimes considered as part of the thermosphere, the outermost actual atmosphere. Above this layer, the exosphere has so few molecules that they can escape into space. For more information visit the question "What causes the Aurora Borealis?"
If you are looking up at the aurora borealis while you are walking, it would be possible for you to stub your toe on a rock. Otherwise, no. The Aurora Borealis works exactly the same as a fluorescent light; electrical currents running through the near-vacuum of the ionosphere. Except prettier.
Aurora Borealis.
One consequence is increased ionization of earth's upper atmosphere. The good part of that is spectacular displays of the aurora borealis. The bad part is increased radio, telephone and satellite interference.
The Aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is a natural light display in the Earth's sky caused by solar wind particles interacting with the Earth's magnetic field. They are most visible in high-latitude regions close to the Arctic Circle. The lights can appear in various colors, such as green, pink, red, blue, and violet, creating stunning visual displays in the night sky.