Northern Lights
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Now let’s talk about The Northern Lights. The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a stunning natural light display seen in the polar regions of the Earth. They occur when charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. Here's how it works: The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, occur when charged particles from the sun come into contact with molecules in our atmosphere. It all starts with the sun throwing off massive amounts of plasma – known as a solar storm – that stream towards Earth at speeds up to 8 million km/h. Later, when the solar wind reaches Earth, it interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field. This field is strongest near the poles (both North and South), which is why the Northern and Southern Lights are usually seen closer to these regions. In the end, The charged particles from the solar wind collide with the gases in Earth's atmosphere, primarily oxygen and nitrogen. These collisions release energy in the form of light, creating the beautiful, colourful displays we see as the Northern Lights. Oxygen creates green light and in rare occasions red light and these are the most common colours. Nitrogen creates pink light, helium and hydrogen creates blue and purple light. So, how can we see the Northen lights then? For the Northern Lights to appear, we need three key elements: Number 1, Darkness , the less external lights you have, the clearer you MIGHT see the lights. Number 2, Clear Skies – Cloud cover can hide the magic, but the weather changes fast in the Arctic, and a cloudy sky in one moment can produce an opening with northern lights shining through just moments later. Number 3, Solar activity – Low solar activity will not give you the best chances to see the bright colours, high activity can produce spectacular shows in the sky. You might wonder if you can predict when the Northern Lights will appear? And yes, of course, it will be at 9:15 this evening. Just kidding. While scientists can’t predict exactly when and where the Northern Lights will appear, they can give you a good idea based on solar activity. Apps and websites that track solar wind, geomagnetic storms, and aurora forecasts can help you to find the best time and place to see the lights. Keep in mind, the lights depend on solar activity, so they are more likely to appear during periods of increased solar flares or storms. The duration of the Northern Lights can be very different. Sometimes they may last for only a few minutes, while other times they can last for several hours. The auroras often come and go in waves.