Auroras
Auroras
Polar lights, or auroras, are natural light displays in the sky, primarily seen near Earth's magnetic poles. They are caused by energetic particles from the Sun colliding with atoms in the Earth's atmosphere, creating a vibrant, colorful glow. The Northern Lights are called Aurora Borealis and the Southern Lights are called Aurora Australis.
What Causes Auroras?
The Sun continuously produces an outflow of charged particles into the solar system known as the solar wind. When the solar wind reaches Earth, it can interact with Earth’s magnetic shield, often depositing and accumulating energy there. When this energy is finally released, much of it rains down on our atmosphere, causing auroras.
Physics Behind Auroras colours
The color of an aurora depends on the type of gas that is hit and where that gas is located in the atmosphere.
Oxygen excited to different energy levels can produce green and red. Green occurs roughly between 60 to 120 miles (100-200 km) altitude, and red occurs above 120 miles (200 km).
Excited nitrogen gas from about 60 to 120 miles (100-200 km) glows blue. Depending on the type and energy of the particle it is interacting with, nitrogen can give off both pink and blue light. If it is below about 60 miles (100 km), it gives the lower edge of the aurora a reddish-purple to pink glow.
Sometimes, the light emitted by these gases can appear to mix, making the auroras seem purple, pink, or even white.
Compiled by
Ms Naresh kuwar