AURORA

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

Name: Rajat Kumar Beura

Roll No: BS(P)21-066
+3 3rd year science (physics hons)
 ◾ Introduction:
• An aurora, also known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora
australis),[c] is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude

regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of brilliant lights
that appear as curtains, rays, spirals, or dynamic flickers covering the entire sky.
• In the ionosphere, the ions of the solar wind collide with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen from
Earth’s atmosphere. The energy released during these collisions causes a colorful glowing
halo around the poles—an aurora. Most auroras happen about 97-1,000 kilometers (60-620
miles) above Earth’s surface.
• Aurora is only seen near the pole regions of earth. If you’re near the North Pole, it is called
an “Aurora Borealis” or northern lights. If you’re near the South Pole, it is called an “Aurora
Australis” or the southern lights.

◾ Formation of Aurora:
• The solar wind is created by the outward expansion of plasma (a collection of charged
particles) from the Sun’s corona (outermost atmosphere). This plasma is continually heated
to the point that the Sun’s gravity can’t hold it down. It then travels along the Sun’s magnetic
field lines that extend radially outward.
• Energetic charged particles from these events are carried from the Sun by the solar wind.
When these particles seep through Earth's magnetosphere, they cause substorms. Then

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 fast moving particles slam into our thin, high atmosphere, colliding with Earth's oxygen and
nitrogen particles.
• In the ionosphere, the ions of the solar wind collide with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen from
Earth's atmosphere. The energy released during these collisions causes a colorful glowing
halo around the poles—an aurora.

◾ Appearance & Colours:

• Green is the most common color. Then comes pink, a mixture of light green and red,
followed by pure red, then yellow (a mixture of red and green), and finally, pure blue.
Precipitating protons generally produce optical emissions as incident hydrogen atoms after
gaining electrons from the atmosphere.
• The colours of the northern lights are determined by a number of factors: the composition of
gases in Earth’s atmosphere. The altitude where the aurora occurs. The density of the
atmosphere.
• The two primary gases in the Earth's atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen, and these
elements give off different colours during an aurora display. The green we see in the aurora

is characteristic of oxygen, while hints of purple, blue or pink are caused by nitrogen.

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◾ Geographical locations:
• Auroras are only visible at night, and usually only appear in lower polar regions. Auroras are
visible almost every night near the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, which are about 66.5
degrees north and south of the Equator. In the north, the display is called aurora borealis, or
northern lights.
• The best places to see the aurora borealis are the Nordic Countries of Iceland, Norway,
Sweden and Finland, which lie within or near the Arctic Circle. One could also look for them
in Russia, Alaska and Canada’s north west territories.
• November through to February offer the darkest skies and longer evenings for maximum
sky-gazing. The strongest lights tend to appear between 9pm and 2am, though the best
sightings often occur between 11pm and midnight.