An Aurora is a natural light display in the sky,observed at night time within a polar zone (north or south). They occur in the ionosphere- the uppermost part of the atmosphere that plays an important role in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere which is the region around earth that posses a magnetic field (Dictionary.com). Folk Tales from cultures world wide (in previous centuries) believed that "the aurora was a place for the dead—in particular for people who had died a violent or too early death, people that had been murdered, taken their own lives, been killed in war or had died in childbirth. Other cultures believed it was a message from the creator" (Pal Brekke)
What is Aurora Borealis?
Also called the Northern Lights, it is a display of colored lights in the sky, usually observed at nighttime, near the north pole (as opposed to aurora australis in the south pole). Aurora Borealis got its name from the Roman Goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for northern wind, Boreas (Reference.com).
What causes the color of an Aurora?
This is the spectrum of colors emitted by the various atoms in earth’s outer atmosphere (Causes of Color)
The color of an aurora depends on the wavelength of light discharged. In order to determine this wavelength, one has to look at the specific atmospheric gases, their electrical states, and the energy that the particle has as it hits the atmospheric gas. When looking at the atmosphere, it consists of nitrogen and oxygen which, as seen in the picture above, turn different colors depending on different events. When there is atomic oxygen, it usually causes a green or red color to occur (green at a wavelength of 557.7 nm and red at a wavelength of 630.0 nm). Nitrogen, on the other hand, causes blue and deep red hues).
(Causes of Color)
What is typical of an Aurora?
Auroras, typically, are greenish-yellow and occasionally at the upper and lower edges are red.
On Rare Occasions…
Sunlight will hit the top part of the auroral rays to cause a faint blue color to appear. once every 10 years or so, a rare aurora occurs with a deep blood red color from top to bottom. Pink hues may also be seen in the lower area of the aurora. In addition to producing light, the energetic auroral collisions transmit heat.
(Causes of Color)
How is it Formed?
Auroras are formed by energetic charged particles from the magnetosphere. The particles are electrons and protons that get their energy in a place near the geospace environment. When Earth's magnetosphere comes into contact with solar wind, it produces auroras.
(Geophysical Institute)
This takes place when the son goes through Solar Explosions. The flares and huge quantities of particles are hurled towards the Earth, and once there is when the reaction occurs to create the Auroras, 100,000km above the surface of our planet.
Why is it important?
While Auroras are beautiful, they can act in a sinister way. The solar flares that create these beautiful lights are hazardous to our form of electricity on Earth. A strong enough solar flare could fry our power grids and global positioning equipment we have today, all in all that is about a trillion dollars worth of damage. Its said that major cities such as New York or Chicago could go with out power for up to a year! On the bright side though, Auroras could be visible as far south as Cuba.
"Experience the Marvel: The Northern Lights." Visit Norway. 27 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.
"Frequently Asked Questions about Aurora and Answers." Aurora FAQ. University of Alaska Fairbanks. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.
Lovett, Richard A. "Solar Flare: What If Biggest Known Sun Storm Hit Today?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 08 Mar. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.
"Polar Lights Give Up Some Secrets." BBC NEWS. BBC NEWS, 25 July 2008. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.
Silvennoinen, Toni. Arctic. Digital image. Toni Silvennoinen Photography. Web. 10 Mar. 2012.
What is an Aurora?
An Aurora is a natural light display in the sky,observed at night time within a polar zone (north or south). They occur in the ionosphere- the uppermost part of the atmosphere that plays an important role in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere which is the region around earth that posses a magnetic field (Dictionary.com). Folk Tales from cultures world wide (in previous centuries) believed that "the aurora was a place for the dead—in particular for people who had died a violent or too early death, people that had been murdered, taken their own lives, been killed in war or had died in childbirth. Other cultures believed it was a message from the creator" (Pal Brekke)What is Aurora Borealis?
Also called the Northern Lights, it is a display of colored lights in the sky, usually observed at nighttime, near the north pole (as opposed to aurora australis in the south pole). Aurora Borealis got its name from the Roman Goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for northern wind, Boreas (Reference.com).
What causes the color of an Aurora?
This is the spectrum of colors emitted by the various atoms in earth’s outer atmosphere (Causes of Color)
The color of an aurora depends on the wavelength of light discharged. In order to determine this wavelength, one has to look at the specific atmospheric gases, their electrical states, and the energy that the particle has as it hits the atmospheric gas. When looking at the atmosphere, it consists of nitrogen and oxygen which, as seen in the picture above, turn different colors depending on different events. When there is atomic oxygen, it usually causes a green or red color to occur (green at a wavelength of 557.7 nm and red at a wavelength of 630.0 nm). Nitrogen, on the other hand, causes blue and deep red hues).
(Causes of Color)
What is typical of an Aurora?
Auroras, typically, are greenish-yellow and occasionally at the upper and lower edges are red.
On Rare Occasions…
Sunlight will hit the top part of the auroral rays to cause a faint blue color to appear. once every 10 years or so, a rare aurora occurs with a deep blood red color from top to bottom. Pink hues may also be seen in the lower area of the aurora. In addition to producing light, the energetic auroral collisions transmit heat.(Causes of Color)
How is it Formed?
Auroras are formed by energetic charged particles from the magnetosphere. The particles are electrons and protons that get their energy in a place near the geospace environment. When Earth's magnetosphere comes into contact with solar wind, it produces auroras.
(Geophysical Institute)
This takes place when the son goes through Solar Explosions. The flares and huge quantities of particles are hurled towards the Earth, and once there is when the reaction occurs to create the Auroras, 100,000km above the surface of our planet.
Why is it important?
While Auroras are beautiful, they can act in a sinister way. The solar flares that create these beautiful lights are hazardous to our form of electricity on Earth. A strong enough solar flare could fry our power grids and global positioning equipment we have today, all in all that is about a trillion dollars worth of damage. Its said that major cities such as New York or Chicago could go with out power for up to a year! On the bright side though, Auroras could be visible as far south as Cuba.Works Cited
Brekke, Pål. "The Aurora Borealis." Solar Max. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://www.solarmax.no/Aurora/Multimedia_files/aurora_article_3.pdf>.
"Experience the Marvel: The Northern Lights." Visit Norway. 27 Jan. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.
"Frequently Asked Questions about Aurora and Answers." Aurora FAQ. University of Alaska Fairbanks. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.
Lovett, Richard A. "Solar Flare: What If Biggest Known Sun Storm Hit Today?" National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 08 Mar. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2012.
"Polar Lights Give Up Some Secrets." BBC NEWS. BBC NEWS, 25 July 2008. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.
Silvennoinen, Toni. Arctic. Digital image. Toni Silvennoinen Photography. Web. 10 Mar. 2012.