0
There is a sequence of events in the formation of the Northern Lights. It all starts at the sun:
- A sudden burst of energized particles from the Sun is called a solar flare.
- These charged particles leave the sun as the solar wind.
- When these particles reach Earth, they are attracted by the North and South Magnetic Poles and move towards them.
- The ionosphere is the highest level of the atmosphere, more than 50 miles (80 km) above the earth.
- In the ionosphere these charged particles collide with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen.
- The oxygen and nitrogen atoms become ionized, or excited, and they give off a burst of colored light. This burst can last from less than a second (green) to almost two minutes (red). This is similar to the way light is created in neon tubes.
- Oxygen gives off green light usually, or sometimes browny-red.
- Nitrogen gives off blue or red.
- If the collisions take place high up then oxygen gives off red. Lower down oxygen gives green and nitrogen shines blue and red. Lower down still oxygen is quiet and nitrogen still gives off blue and red.
Interestingly enough natives in the northern regions state that the lights are sometimes accompanied by a hissing noise.
What else can I help you with?
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 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.
Is the northeren lights a climate of Alaska?
The Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, are a natural light display in the Earth's sky, typically seen in high-latitude regions such as Alaska. They are not a climate, but rather a phenomenon that occurs when solar particles collide with Earth's atmosphere.
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.
Does northern light and lightning are the same?
No, the northern lights are a phenomenon that typically occurs in the thermosphere, the second highest layer of the atmosphere. The northern lights are colorful curtains of light caused by charged particles from the sun being channeled into the upper atmosphere near the north magnetic pole by the planet's magnetic field, these particles then interact with gasses in the thermosphere to produce light in various colors. Lightning is a phenomenon that occurs in the troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere. Lightning is a massive discharge of static electricity that results from interactions of ice crystals and water droplets in thunderstorms. More rarely lighting can occur in the ash cloud of a volcanic eruption.
What is the definition of an aurora?
A luminous atmospheric phenomenon appearing as streamers or bands of light sometimes visible in the night sky in northern or southern regions of the earth.
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.
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 is the fastest phenomenon known to man?
Light
What is the fastest known natural phenomenon?
Light, which travels at ~186,000 miles/second is the fastest known natural phenomenon.
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.
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.
Where did the northern lights start?
The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, start when charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's atmosphere. This interaction causes the particles to emit light, creating the beautiful light display in the sky. The phenomenon can be seen in regions near the North and South Poles.
What are the northern light called as?
Aurora Borealis for the northern ones, and Aurora Australis for the southern ones.
Are Northern lights and aura borialis not the same?
Aurora Borealis and Northern Lights are both names for the same thing.
Why is the Aurora borealis in the northern hemisphere?
The Aurora borealis occurs in the northern hemisphere because it is caused by solar wind particles interacting with the Earth's magnetic field near the North Pole. This interaction causes the particles to emit light, creating the stunning natural phenomenon known as the Northern Lights.
