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 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 "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.
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.
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 "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.
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.
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?"
Charged particles from the Sun striking the upper atmosphere.
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.
Aurora borealis is caused by collisions between gaseous particles.
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 is the closest thing to "nothing" that you can actually see; it is VERY thin air, partially ionized by the solar radiation spiraling in toward the Earth along the magnetic field lines. It is, for the most part, above the highest altitude that aircraft can reach. If you were to go up in a high-altitude balloon and jump out with a space suit and a parachute, you could "fall into the aurora borealis" and suffer no ill effects. Without the space suit, you would be dead in moments from lack of air, and without a parachute, you would be killed on impact with the ground 30 miles below.