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The Aurora Borealis - Northern Lights (and the Southern Hemisphere's Aurora Australis) are caused by the interaction of Earth's magnetic field with the flow of highly-charged particles from the Sun (known as the "solar wind"). Collisions of these particles with atmospheric molecules causes energy emission as visible light.

Auroras are normally confined to polar regions, which are nearer the magnetic poles.

When magnetic storms occur on the Sun, when electrically charged particles (ions) from the corona and solar flares are added to the solar wind produced by the corona, the charged particles are accelerated by the Earth's magnetic field interact with the gases in the upper atmosphere and cause the gas molecules to emit light. Electrons in the molecules are excited to higher energy levels and then release photons when the fall back to lower energy levels.

A:When the ions from the sun first collide with air particles, each causes a different reaction, and each reaction causes a different color to explode. Neutral nitrogen particles will create a

purplish pink color, while ionic nitrogen transforms into a brilliant blue. If an ion crashes

into oxygen in a lower altitude, it becomes the most common aurora, a yellowish-green

color. If it however, collides with oxygen at a high level, it will create the rarest blood red

aurora.

A:An Aurora Australis or an Aurora Borealis occurs when streams of particles from the sun's solar winds hit the earth's atmosphere at an angle (as can only happen at the poles). These particles interact with the edges of the earth's magnetic field and when they collide with the gases in the ionosphere, the particles glow creating curtains of blue, green and magenta.

An aurora is sometimes accompanied by a crackling sound.

A:Auroras are caused by radiation from the sun, called solar wind, interacting with Earth's magnetic field. Since the magnetic field is strongest near the poles, that's the region where most auroras occur. A:Solar charged particles from the sun, which are normally radiated into space, sometimes get caught in the Earths magnetic field as they come into the upper atmosphere they react with other gases and produce coloured lights A:Auroras are caused by Solar Winds colliding with charged particles in the upper atmosphere.

Auroras also occur on other planets in our solar system. According to the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska:

If a planet has an atmosphere and is bombarded by energetic particles, it will have an aurora. Since all planets in our solar system are embedded in the solar wind, all planets are subjected to the energetic particle bombardment, and thus all planets that have a dense enough atmosphere will have some sort of aurora

They also state that the intensity of the aurora will be dependent on the strength of the planets magnetic field.

According to NASA some of the largest auroras occur on Jupiter (which has auroras larger than the diameter of Earth) and it is unusual in that solar winds are not required as Jupiter (and its moon Io) is able to create its own charged particles and an intense electric field at it's poles.

Currently NASA believe that volcanic activity on Jupiter's moon (Io) ejects oxygen and sulphur ions (O+ and S+) into Jupiter's spinning magnetic field. It is the rotation of this magnetic field that creates the very high electrical charge at Jupiter's poles.

This interaction of the electric field and the charged particles from Io ultimately causes the majority of Jupiter's aurora.

A:Auroras are caused by a stream of charged particles (mostly electrons, but some protons and a few other things) from the Sun getting trapped in Earth's magnetic field and interacting with the gasses in our upper atmosphere. The charges electrify the nitrogen and oxygen in the air and make them glow like a neon or fluorescent light bulb. When photons crash into gas nuclei, electrons can take up that energy. The energized electrons use the extra energy to jump out to higher energy levels around their parent nuclei. The atoms are said to be ionized. The energized electrons then release the extra energy and return to their original orbitals. The released energy is electromagnetic energy - it's light.

When these particles hit the upper atmosphere, they react with the atoms and molecules of the air and cause them to glow with the characteristic colours associated with the aurora.

A:They only appear when the Sun sends out solar wind and when they hit the Earth's magnetic field they are deflected towards the magnetic poles. As the high speed particles from the Sun interact with the gases in the upper atmosphere they cause fluorescence as the outer electrons of the gas molecules are bumped into a higher quantum level. They then jump down to their original quantum level and in doing so emit a photon of light. Millions of these jumps make a spectacular light show. This also happens on a few other planets in the Solar System. A:It is formed because of the magnetic field of earth. As charged particles from the sun collide with our magnetic field it makes light.

Produced by Collision of charged Particles from Earths Magnetsphere.

The liquid iron core present at the interior of our earth has created a magnetic field around it.Till then which has been subjected to massive bombardment with high energy solar radiation & other form of harmful cosmic rays. All these high energy charged particles are get trapped in van Allen radiation belts & in addition get reflected by the earth's magnetic field towards the pole where these particles interact with the earth's atmospheric components in form of a visible energy called the northen lights.

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Aurora borealis is a name for what natural phenomenon?

The aurora borealis night-sky displays are also known as the northern lights, or the northern polar lights.(or the southern (polar) lights, depending on where you live)In the Southern Hemisphere this phenomenon is also known as the aurora australis.


Are northern lights an example of electronic principles?

Yes. Northern lights reflect the principle of florescent Lights. Charged particles in the Magnetosphere collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere. This energizes the atoms and molecule's electrons the relaxation of the electrons emit the Northern Lights. Different colors indicate different atoms or molecules.


Are the northern lights real?

Yes, the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, are a natural phenomenon that occur in the polar regions when charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field. They create colorful displays of light in the sky, usually seen at night.


If there were not a hole in the Ozone could the Northern Lights exist as they do?

Yes, the presence of the ozone hole does not directly impact the visibility of the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights, also known as auroras, are a natural light display in the Earth's sky that occur near the polar regions when charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field. The presence or absence of an ozone hole does not affect this phenomenon.


What phenomenon do solar winds cause near the earths poles?

Solar winds interacting with the Earth's magnetic field near the poles create the auroras, also known as the northern and southern lights. Charged particles from the solar wind collide with gases in the atmosphere, producing colorful displays of light in the sky.

Related Questions

What is phenomenon known as northern lights?

aurora borealis


Aurora borealis is a name for what natural phenomenon?

The aurora borealis night-sky displays are also known as the northern lights, or the northern polar lights.(or the southern (polar) lights, depending on where you live)In the Southern Hemisphere this phenomenon is also known as the aurora australis.


Do capitalized northern lights?

Yes it's name\place sort of


What causes the phenomenon of the northern and southern lights?

The phenomenon of the northern and southern lights, also known as auroras, is caused by solar wind particles interacting with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. This interaction creates colorful light displays in the sky near the Earth's poles.


What creates the phenomenon known as the northern lights?

The northern lights, also known as auroras, are created by charged particles from the sun interacting with the Earth's magnetic field. This interaction causes the particles to emit light, creating the beautiful and colorful light displays in the sky.


Are Northern lights and aura borialis not the same?

Aurora Borealis and Northern Lights are both names for the same thing.


What causes the mesmerizing natural phenomenon known as the aurora borealis or northern lights?

The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is caused by solar wind particles interacting with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere, creating colorful light displays in the sky.


How is the phenomenon of the Northern Lights created?

The Northern Lights, also known as auroras, are created when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth's atmosphere. This collision produces colorful light displays in the sky, typically near the Earth's magnetic poles.


What is the term for the often colorful lights that occur in the atmosphere above the earth's Northern geomagnetic pole?

The term for the colorful lights that occur in the atmosphere above the earth's Northern geomagnetic pole is the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. This phenomenon is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with the Earth's magnetic field.


How is the phenomenon of the Northern Lights formed in the Earth's atmosphere?

The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are formed when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere. This collision creates a colorful light display in the sky, typically seen in polar regions.


What are the northen lights?

Northern lights is the name of a light phenomenon often seen in the northern regions. The lights have been around since Earth formed an atmosphere -the dinosaurs saw it, early humans saw it and our descendants will se it. The scientific name for the phenomenon is "Aurora Borealis", aurora for short.


Are northern lights an example of electronic principles?

Yes. Northern lights reflect the principle of florescent Lights. Charged particles in the Magnetosphere collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere. This energizes the atoms and molecule's electrons the relaxation of the electrons emit the Northern Lights. Different colors indicate different atoms or molecules.