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It's the interaction between the Earth's magnetic field and charged particles emitted from the Sun (the solar 'wind').

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Q: What is the cause of the aurora borealis northern lights?
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Is the Aurora Borealis?

The aurora is a glow observed in the night sky, usually in the polar zone. For this reason some scientists call it a "polar aurora" (or "aurora polaris"). In northern latitudes, it is known as "aurora borealis" which is Latin for "northern dawn" since in Europe especially, it often appears as a reddish glow on the northern horizon as if the sun were rising from an unusual direction. The aurora borealis is also called the "northern lights". The aurora borealis most often occurs from September to October and March to April. Its southern counterpart, "aurora australis", has similar properties. The cause of the aurora is charged particles from the solar wind, accelerated by the Earth's magnetic field, colliding with atoms in the upper atmosphere causing them to glow as they release their surplus energy.


Why is the aurora borealis often seen in the northern latitudes of Canada?

The aurora borealis occurs in the northern latitudes of Canada because the Earth's magnetic field guides charged particles from the sun toward the poles. When these particles interact with molecules in the Earth's atmosphere, they produce the colorful light display known as the aurora borealis.


Do the charged particles emitted from the sun cause the Northern Lights?

Yes, charged particles emitted from the sun, known as solar wind, interact with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere to create the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) near the poles. When these charged particles collide with gases in the atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, it produces the colorful light display seen in the night sky.


Are the Aurora Borealis on Earth caused by sunspots?

No, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are caused by solar wind particles colliding with the Earth's magnetic field. These collisions produce energized particles that create the colorful light displays we see in polar regions. Sunspots are dark spots on the Sun's surface that are linked to solar activity like solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which can intensify the Aurora Borealis but are not their direct cause.


Do streams of protons and electrons cause the Aurora Borealis?

Yes, streams of protons and electrons from the sun interact with Earth's magnetic field to create the Aurora Borealis. When these charged particles collide with atoms in the Earth's atmosphere, they produce colorful light displays in the polar regions.

Related questions

Is the Aurora Borealis?

The aurora is a glow observed in the night sky, usually in the polar zone. For this reason some scientists call it a "polar aurora" (or "aurora polaris"). In northern latitudes, it is known as "aurora borealis" which is Latin for "northern dawn" since in Europe especially, it often appears as a reddish glow on the northern horizon as if the sun were rising from an unusual direction. The aurora borealis is also called the "northern lights". The aurora borealis most often occurs from September to October and March to April. Its southern counterpart, "aurora australis", has similar properties. The cause of the aurora is charged particles from the solar wind, accelerated by the Earth's magnetic field, colliding with atoms in the upper atmosphere causing them to glow as they release their surplus energy.


What is the auroras?

The aurora is a glow observed in the night sky, usually in the polar zone. For this reason some scientists call it a "polar aurora" (or "aurora polaris"). In northern latitudes, it is known as "aurora borealis" which is Latin for "northern dawn" since in Europe especially, it often appears as a reddish glow on the northern horizon as if the sun were rising from an unusual direction. The aurora borealis is also called the "northern lights". The aurora borealis most often occurs from September to October and March to April. Its southern counterpart, "aurora australis", has similar properties. The cause of the aurora is charged particles from the solar wind, accelerated by the Earth's magnetic field, colliding with atoms in the upper atmosphere causing them to glow as they release their surplus energy.


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.


What can cause an aurora borealis?

sunlight in the sun


What is the difference between the Northern Lights and the Southern LIghts?

The Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, occur in the Northern Hemisphere, while the Southern Lights, or aurora australis, occur in the Southern Hemisphere. They both result from solar particles interacting with Earth's atmosphere, creating colorful light displays near the poles. The main difference is their location relative to the Earth's poles.


Why is the aurora borealis often seen in “the northern latitudes of Canada”?

Spectacular aurora, or northern lights, seen by Colin Chatfield in Saskatchewan, Canada. Bottom line: When charged particles from the sun strike atoms in Earth's atmosphere, they cause electrons in the atoms to move to a higher-energy state.


How far north do you have to be to see the northern lights?

The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, can typically be seen from locations within the auroral oval, which includes regions such as Alaska, northern Canada, Scandinavia, and Iceland. The further north you are within these regions, the better your chances of witnessing the aurora borealis.


Where can the Aurora Borealis be found?

The aurora is a glow observed in the night sky, usually in the polar zone. For this reason some scientists call it a "polar aurora" (or "aurora polaris"). In northern latitudes, it is known as "aurora borealis" which is Latin for "northern dawn" since in Europe especially, it often appears as a reddish glow on the northern horizon as if the sun were rising from an unusual direction. The aurora borealis is also called the "northern lights". The aurora borealis most often occurs from September to October and March to April. Its southern counterpart, "aurora australis", has similar properties. The cause of the aurora is charged particles from the solar wind, accelerated by the Earth's magnetic field, colliding with atoms in the upper atmosphere causing them to glow as they release their surplus energy.


Why is the aurora borealis often seen in the northern latitudes of Canada?

The aurora borealis occurs in the northern latitudes of Canada because the Earth's magnetic field guides charged particles from the sun toward the poles. When these particles interact with molecules in the Earth's atmosphere, they produce the colorful light display known as the aurora borealis.


Do the charged particles emitted from the sun cause the Northern Lights?

Yes, charged particles emitted from the sun, known as solar wind, interact with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere to create the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) near the poles. When these charged particles collide with gases in the atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, it produces the colorful light display seen in the night sky.


In which layer of the atmosphere are the ionized particles that cause the aurora borealis?

The ionized particles that cause the aurora borealis are found in the thermosphere, which is located approximately 80-550 km above the Earth's surface. When these charged particles from the sun interact with gases in the thermosphere, it creates the colorful light display known as the aurora borealis.


How The solar wind can interact with Earths magnetic field to create powerful electrical currents that cause what near the poles?

When the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field, it can cause a phenomenon known as the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) near the North Pole and Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) near the South Pole. The solar wind carries charged particles that are funneled towards the poles by Earth's magnetic field. When these particles collide with gases in Earth's atmosphere, they emit light which creates the colorful light displays in the sky.