Northern Lights

Now let’s talk about the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a natural light phenomenon most commonly seen in the polar regions. But what actually creates them? It all begins with the Sun. The Sun constantly releases electrically charged particles into space. This stream of particles is known as the solar wind, and it travels across space towards the Earth. When these particles reach our planet, they interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, which guides many of them towards the polar regions. High above the Earth, the particles collide with gases in our atmosphere, mainly oxygen and nitrogen. During these collisions, energy is released in the form of light – creating the Aurora we see in the night sky. The colour of the Northern Lights depends partly on which gases are involved and the altitude at which the collisions take place. Green is by far the most common colour, produced by oxygen. Oxygen can also produce red auroras at higher altitudes, while nitrogen can contribute to blue, purple and pink colours. So what do we need to see the Northern Lights? Three things are especially important. First: darkness. The darker the surroundings, the easier it is to see faint auroras. Second: clear skies. Clouds can hide the Northern Lights completely. But Arctic weather can change quickly, so even a cloudy evening can sometimes give us an opening in the sky. And third: solar activity. Increased activity from the Sun can create stronger and more active displays. So, can we predict exactly when the Northern Lights will appear? Absolutely. Tonight they will appear at exactly 9:15. Just kidding. Although we can monitor the Sun and make aurora forecasts, nobody can tell us exactly when the Northern Lights will appear above us. They might last only a few minutes, or continue for hours, often becoming stronger and weaker in waves throughout the night. That unpredictability is part of what makes every Northern Lights experience different.