Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis

The Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis are some of the most beautiful natural phenomena that can be observed on our planet. These celestial light shows are also known as the Northern Lights and Southern Lights respectively, and they occur when electrically charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field. In this article, we will explore the science behind the Northern Lights and Southern Lights, their history, and how to view them.

The Science behind Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis:

The Northern Lights and Southern Lights are caused by solar flares, which send electrically charged particles, known as solar wind, towards the Earth. These charged particles are then drawn towards the Earth's magnetic field, which channels them towards the polar regions. As these particles enter the Earth's atmosphere, they collide with gas molecules, causing them to emit light. The color of the Northern Lights and Southern Lights depends on the gas molecules that are being collided with. For example, oxygen molecules produce a green or red light, while nitrogen molecules produce blue or purple light.

The Northern Lights and Southern Lights are most visible during times of increased solar activity, such as during solar storms or sunspot cycles. The peak season for viewing the Northern Lights is from September to March, while the peak season for viewing the Southern Lights is from March to September.

History and Mythology:

The Northern Lights and Southern Lights have fascinated people for centuries. Many indigenous cultures have their own interpretations of the aurora. In Finnish mythology, the aurora was believed to be caused by the spirits of the dead. In Norse mythology, the aurora was seen as a bridge between the living and the dead. The Inuit people of Alaska and Canada believed that the aurora was a way for their ancestors to communicate with them.

In Western culture, the first written record of the Northern Lights was made by Greek philosopher Aristotle in 322 BC. During the Middle Ages, the aurora was often associated with divine punishment or a sign of impending doom. However, by the 17th and 18th centuries, the scientific community had begun to study the aurora more closely, leading to a better understanding of the phenomenon.

Viewing the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis:

The Northern Lights and Southern Lights can be seen from areas close to the Earth's magnetic poles, such as Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Iceland, and Russia for the Northern Lights and Antarctica, southern parts of South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia for the Southern Lights. The lights can also sometimes be seen from areas farther away from the poles, depending on the strength of the solar activity.

To view the Northern Lights and Southern Lights, it is best to be in a location with clear skies, away from light pollution, and during a time of increased solar activity. It is also important to dress warmly, as the polar regions can be very cold. Many tour operators offer Northern Lights and Southern Lights tours, which can provide an opportunity to see the lights from the best vantage points.

Aurora Borealis:

The Northern Lights are visible from areas near the Earth's North Pole, such as northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Canada, and Alaska. The lights can sometimes be seen from areas as far south as the United Kingdom, Germany, and the northern United States, but this is rare and requires very strong solar activity.

The Northern Lights are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Scandinavia. In Finland, for example, the lights are so popular that there are even Northern Lights festivals that take place in the winter months.

There are several factors that affect the visibility of the Northern Lights, such as the weather, the phase of the moon, and the strength of the solar activity. It is important to check the weather forecast and the aurora forecast before planning a trip to see the Northern Lights.

Aurora Australis:

The Southern Lights are visible from areas near the Earth's South Pole, such as Antarctica, southern parts of South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. The best time to see the Southern Lights is during the southern hemisphere winter months, from March to September.

The Southern Lights are less well-known than the Northern Lights, but they are just as beautiful. The lights can appear as a bright green, pink, or red glow in the sky, and can sometimes be seen from as far north as Tasmania, Australia.

The Southern Lights are difficult to study because the areas where they are visible are very remote and difficult to access. However, research has shown that the Southern Lights are very similar to the Northern Lights, and are caused by the same processes.

How they were forming?

The Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis, also known as the Northern Lights and Southern Lights, are formed when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere. This interaction creates a beautiful display of lights in the sky, ranging in color from green to red to blue to purple.

The formation of the Northern Lights and Southern Lights is closely tied to the sun's activity. The sun is constantly emitting a stream of charged particles known as the solar wind, which travels through space and interacts with the Earth's magnetic field. When the charged particles from the sun collide with the Earth's magnetic field, they become trapped in the magnetic field lines and are funneled toward the Earth's polar regions.

As the charged particles enter the Earth's atmosphere, they collide with atoms and molecules of oxygen and nitrogen, which make up the majority of the Earth's atmosphere. When the charged particles collide with these atoms and molecules, they transfer their energy to them, causing them to become excited. The excited atoms and molecules then release the energy in the form of light, creating the colorful display of the Northern Lights and Southern Lights.

The specific colors of the Northern Lights and Southern Lights depend on the type of atom or molecule that is being excited. For example, the green color of the Northern Lights is caused by oxygen atoms that are excited at an altitude of about 60 miles (100 km), while the red color of the Northern Lights is caused by oxygen atoms that are excited at higher altitudes of about 200 miles (320 km). Nitrogen atoms and molecules can also contribute to the color of the lights, producing colors such as blue and purple.

The intensity and frequency of the Northern Lights and Southern Lights are also dependent on the sun's activity. The sun goes through an 11-year cycle of activity, during which the number of sunspots and solar flares increases and decreases. During times of high solar activity, more charged particles are emitted by the sun, which can lead to more frequent and intense displays of the Northern Lights and Southern Lights.

In summary, the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis are formed when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere. This collision causes the atoms and molecules to become excited, and they release energy in the form of light, creating the beautiful display of colors that we see in the Northern Lights and Southern Lights. The intensity and frequency of the lights are dependent on the sun's activity, and they can be seen most clearly in areas close to the Earth's poles.

In Conclusion:

The Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis are fascinating natural phenomena that have captured the imaginations of people around the world for centuries. While they were once shrouded in myth and superstition, our understanding of the science behind these lights has increased significantly in recent years. Today, the Northern Lights and Southern Lights are a popular tourist attraction and a source of inspiration for photographers, artists, and scientists alike. If you have the opportunity to see these lights in person, it is an experience that you will never forget.