In Pics: Stunning Aurora Substorm Captured By Stargazers
Many planets, including Earth, have a magnetosphere—a vast magnetic shield created by the swirling molten metal core that extends deep into space. Earth's magnetosphere protects the planet by absorbing energy from harmful charged particles in space.
When parts of the magnetosphere become overloaded with energy, a geomagnetic storm can occur, much like thunderclouds forming before a storm. During these storms, energy flows down Earth's magnetic field lines and enters the atmosphere, resembling a heavy downpour.
This influx injects millions of amps into the atmosphere, creating breathtaking auroral displays far from the poles.
Solar Activity and Coronal Mass Ejections
The Sun sometimes releases large bursts of solar material in a series of explosive events called coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These massive ejections appear as huge blobs traveling through space, influencing geomagnetic storms on Earth.
Colors of the Aurora
- Green auroras, the most common, occur when electrons excite oxygen gas at altitudes between 100 and 200 km.
- Blue auroras happen when nitrogen gas is excited at similar altitudes (100-200 km).
- Nitrogen below 100 km glowing causes reddish-purple or pink auroras.
"Aurora colors result from energetic particles colliding with gases in the upper atmosphere, with each gas producing distinct colors at different altitudes."
The mesmerizing Northern Lights illuminate the dark sky with a spectacular light show driven by interactions between solar particles and Earth's magnetic environment.
Would you like the summary to be more scientific or more poetic?