The Cause of the Aurora
—Fast electrons from space travel along the magnetic field and strike oxygen atoms or nitro- gen molecules in the atmosphere. Energy from an atom or molecule excited by fast electrons is re- leased as different colors of light.
People also ask
What causes your auroras?
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Auroras are brilliant ribbons of light weaving across Earth's northern or southern polar regions. These natural light shows are caused by magnetic storms ...
Jan 17, 2024 · Auroras occur when these charged particles launched along Earth's magnetic field collide with gases in Earth's upper atmosphere. Those ...
Duration: 1:39
Posted: Feb 17, 2018
Posted: Feb 17, 2018
Intense aurora displays are generated following massive explosions on the Sun known as 'coronal mass ejections'. These explosions release clouds of hot plasma ...
Oct 19, 2023 · Reddish and bluish light that often appears in the lower fringes of auroras is produced by ions striking atoms of nitrogen. Ions striking ...
Oct 5, 2022 · Most of the green color you see in Earth's auroras come from atomic oxygen, with a bunch of blue shades coming from atomic and ionized nitrogen.
May 3, 2017 · Auroras form when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in Earth's atmosphere, causing the atoms to emit light. This phenomenon ...
Duration: 2:42
Posted: Sep 5, 2022
Posted: Sep 5, 2022
Dr Mason states that all auroral activity is caused by electrically charged particles coming into the atmosphere at very high speed, colliding with the ...