what causes the northern lights simple explanation

The Northern Lights occur so high up in the atmosphere that they don‚Äôt pose any threat to people watching them from … Actually, the northern lights are neither of those things. The Northern Lights are located from 80 km … PICTURE (Right): The Earth's magnetic field lines are blue where the field is directed inward (Northern Hemisphere) and yellow where directed outward (Southern Hemisphere). What Causes Northern Lights | The meteorite News What causes the northern lights? - Phys.org But what causes them? But for all its beauty, this spectacular light show is a … There is a sequence of events in the formation of the Northern Lights. As the protons and electrons from the solar wind hit the particles in the Earth‚Äôs atmosphere, they release energy – and this is what causes the northern lights. The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis as the scientific term goes, are one of the most captivating natural beauties one can witness in life.They were originally named after Aurora, the Greek goddess of dawn. The most common colour seen in the Northern Lights is green. The Northern Lights are caused by the interaction of the solar wind - a stream of charged particles escaping the Sun - and our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere. When the electrons drop back to a lower energy state, they release a photon: light. September 27, 2021 by Newadmin. Reid Kisselback. Despite all of the immense technological and scientific advancements in recent times, the exact cause of this incredible spectacle has never proven. ­The aurora borealis (the Northern Lights) and the aurora australis (the Southern Lights) have always fascinated mankind, and people even travel thousands of miles just to see the brilliant light shows in the earth's atmosphere. You May Also Find These Documents HelpfulA Northern Light Essay. ...A Northern Light Book Report Essay. ...Pullman's Ideolgy in Northern Lights Essay. ..."Northern Lights Deals with Large Themes; Love, Betrayal, Religion and Science" Discuss Essay. ...Essay about American Films and Northern Lights. ...A Northern Light Study Guide Essay. ...Dust in Pullman's Novel Northern Lights Essay. ...More items... But it is true: the Northern Lights originate in the Sun. This process creates the beautiful aurora, or northern […] The Northern Lights - or aurora borealis - are one of nature’s most beautiful and beguiling phenomena. The reaction between those particles and the gases creates energy, and the energy is given off as light - the Northern Lights. When the electrons reach Earth's thin upper atmosphere, they collide with nitrogen and oxygen molecules, sending them into an excited state. The Beatles: Get Back has premiered on Disney+. Simple, huh? The Earth’s atmosphere is made up of different atoms, like oxygen and nitrogen, and it’s these atoms that cause the colours we can see in the Northern Lights. Scientists Finally Know For Sure. Colossal sheets of vividly colored light shimmy and dance across the night sky in locations near or within the Arctic Circle, from Siberia all the way to Iceland. Simple, huh? Do humans affect the Northern Lights? The northern lights are a phenomenon that appear in the sky when charged particles coming from the sun slam into oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere, ionizing those molecules and ... Auroras are produced when the Earth's magnetosphere is disturbed by the solar wind . The energy for making the northern lights comes from the Sun. Ancestral generations that have resided in Alaska's great outdoors over many years have felt that warmth of life that the northern lights have breathed into them. When the solar wind hits millions of oxygen atoms in the Earth’s atmosphere at the … But what causes them? The Northern Lights are caused by the interaction of the solar wind - a stream of charged particles escaping the Sun - and our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere. As nature’s most spectacular light show, the aurora borealis is an unforgettable sight that’s shrouded in mystery. The energy for making the northern lights comes from the Sun. 1:13 The lights we see in the night sky are in actual fact caused by activity on the surface of the Sun. The northern lights visible at polar areas starts with the collection of particles that stretch, bend, and eventually snap our magnetic field. What Causes The Northern Lights? They are caused by the solar wind, a jet stream of charged particles (mostly electrons) that slam into oxygen and nitrogen molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere, making them glow like the gas in a fluorescent tube. The northern lights (called the aurora borealis) and the southern lights ( aurora australis) appear when tiny particles stream out from the Sun and hit Earth’s atmosphere. IE 11 is not supported. These lights appear most often near the earth’s magnetic poles (you may know them as the north and south poles). They are caused by the sun, which sometimes has a strong solar wind. What causes the aurora borealis simple explanation? Now the long and complicated version: Sunspot activity and solar flares catapult solar winds of hot plasma (gas of free electrons and positive ions) toward earth. The northern lights (aurora borealis), are caused by the sun’s particles hitting the upper magnetic field of the earth’s atmosphere at an incredibly high rate of speed. Northern Lights Explained. Despite their magical allure, there's a scientific explanation behind the northern lights: Solar electrical particles collide with gas particles ... discover.silversea.com In the south (Antarctica), they’re known as the aurora australis or southern lights. When the electrons drop back to a lower energy state, they release a photon: light. 5 minutes ago. Spending a night staring at aurora borealis, or the northern lights, remains a bucket list tick for millions around the world. collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere. What causes the aurora borealis simple explanation? What are northern lights caused by? The Northern Lights - or aurora borealis - are one of nature’s most beautiful and beguiling phenomena. Korea's parliamentary session. These electrons originate in the magnetosphere, the region of space controlled by Earth’s magnetic field. The solar wind is like a burp given out by the sun from time to time. the Northern Lights. If you're ever near the North or South Pole, you may be in for a very special treat. 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. The Sun creates something called the “solar wind”. The Northern Lights—also called auroras—appear as green curtains of light dancing across the night sky. If you're near the South Pole, it is called an aurora australis or the southern lights.. Frequently there are beautiful light shows in the sky. This solar wind interacts with … Apex Expeditions leader, Kevin Clement, explains this miracle of nature, witnessed by travelers on our recent visit to Finnmark Plateau in northern Norway. The Northern Lights are caused by the interaction of the solar wind - a stream of charged particles escaping the Sun - and our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere. An aurora, also called polar light, northern light or southern light, is a natural light display in the sky. This solar wind drifts away from the Sun through space, carrying tiny particles called protons and electrons. The auroras are caused by the sun. When the electrons drop back to a lower energy state, they release a photon: light. “When the Sun is more active, you will have stronger northern lights, or they will show up at lower latitudes ,” Oran says. Do the northern lights have any effect on Earth? The northern lights aren't harmful to Earth, but the solar plasma that creates them can and does affect technological infrastructure. They show the Universe invisible to the human eye. By focusing on the radio emissions of celestial objects, they circumvent the dust and gas clouds that obscure the view of optical telescopes. Since these particles are charged, they align themselves with the earth’s magnetic field lines and tend to form a ring within the gases where these field lines converge. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The northern lights phenomenon is a spellbinding experience. Colossal sheets of vividly colored light shimmy and dance across the night sky in locations near or within the Arctic Circle, from Siberia all the way to Iceland. What causes the Northern Lights? When the electrons reach Earth's thin upper atmosphere, they collide with nitrogen and oxygen molecules, sending them into an excited state. These atoms become excited at different levels in the atmosphere. 3 minutes ago. They quickly give it off as another kind of energy—the … Have you ever seen the Northern Lights? Northern Lights Phenomenon Explained Posted by Kevin Clement in Of Interest and Polar Regions. Are your kids wondering: “What causes the Northern Lights?” This question came from Robin, a 6th Grader from the US. The Northern (and Southern) Lights Explained Aurora Borealis and the Aurora Australis are the Earth's greatest natural light shows—here's how they work. As nature’s most spectacular light show, the aurora borealis is an unforgettable sight that’s shrouded in mystery. Although this light show appears in the night sky, auroras are actually caused by the Sun and solar activity. York College Astronomer Tim Paglione explains how the Northern Lights form. The particles give some of their energy to atoms and molecules of gases in the upper atmosphere. ... and this is what causes the northern lights. This is different to the light that we get from the Sun, which keeps us warm and helps us to see during the day. PICTURE (Right): The Earth's magnetic field lines are blue where the field is directed inward (Northern Hemisphere) and yellow where directed outward (Southern Hemisphere). But it is true: the Northern Lights originate in the Sun. How Do The Northern Lights Work Simple Explanation? This process creates the beautiful aurora, or northern lights. There are different mechanisms and features on the sun’s surface which can cause the solar wind to impact Earth and create the northern lights, these are summed up in figure 2. The reaction between those particles and the gases creates energy, and the energy is given off as light - the Northern Lights. The aurora borealis, or northern lights, are an ethereal display of colored lights shimmering across the night sky. Location of Northern lights. They are usually seen in the high latitudes ( Arctic and Antarctic ) regions. ... We never said it was a simple explanation. These colourful lights are the result of interactions between solar storms from the sun and the earth’s outer atmosphere. 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. Stratfor Worldview is the world's leading geopolitical intelligence platform. By David Grossman What Causes the Northern Lights? These electrons originate in the magnetosphere, the region of space controlled by Earth’s magnetic field. Sounds technical, right? The “northern lights” are caused by collisions between fast-moving particles (electrons) from space and the oxygen and nitrogen gas in our atmosphere. They do not appear on the first night but the children do get to spend time in a … When the electrons drop back to a lower energy state, they release a photon: light. In the north (the Arctic), they are called the aurora borealis or northern lights. These lights are called auroras.If you're near the North Pole, it is called an aurora borealis or northern lights. But the atoms and molecules cannot hold the energy. As these particles speed along toward Earth, they collide with air particles along the magnetic field. What causes the Northern Lights? The very simple explanation is that northern lights result from electrons that collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere and give off their energy as light. The lights typically are seen in the far north – the nations bordering the Arctic Ocean – Canada and Alaska, Scandinavian countries, Iceland, Greenland and Russia. Created: November 19, 2021 02:32 PM. Electrically charged particles in the sky, in large numbers, traveling at high rates of speed are what causes Northern Lights. On-Camera Shotgun Microphones, A to Z. Axelrod tweeted , "[The] only explanation for allowing people on terrorist watch list to buy guns is pols who fear NRA more the ISIS. What causes the aurora borealis or 'northern lights'? These particles can travel millions of miles, and some may eventually collide with the Earth. Sometimes, huge arcs and pillars of color dance and float through the dark. What Causes the Northern and Southern Lights? The auroras —the aurora borealis (or northern lights) in the Northern Hemisphere, and the aurora australis (the southern lights) in the Southern Hemisphere—are brilliant natural spectacles that can be seen in the evening sky especially at higher latitudes. What causes the aurora borealis simple explanation? They are caused by the solar wind, a jet stream of charged particles (mostly electrons) … 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. So what causes the Northern Lights? And when witnessing them in person, one can definitely understand how they came to be associated with divine connotations. You can see green, red and even yellow and purple ghostly displays. What causes the Northern Lights? The northern lights are caused by electrons being blown out by the solar wind. During the day solar storms from the sun blow an array of particles, called solar winds. What causes them? This process creates the beautiful aurora, or northern lights. The Science Behind the Colors. What causes the Northern Lights? No matter what the color is at that time, people witnessing the event find something within themselves. The Sun creates something called the “solar wind”. The ... www.npr.org northern lights are usually a pale hue of green and purple. Solar storms on our star's surface give out huge clouds of electrically charged particles. The “northern lights” are caused by collisions between fast-moving particles (electrons) from space and the oxygen and nitrogen gas in our atmosphere. The northern lights are unpredictable and no-one knows when the lights might show. 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