The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) is one of the most spectacular natural light shows on Earth, and it is closely linked to geomagnetic storms. Here’s how the two connect:
🌌 What is the Aurora Borealis?
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The Aurora Borealis appears as glowing, moving curtains of green, red, purple, or blue light in the night sky.
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It occurs mostly in high-latitude regions (Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, Iceland, Greenland).
⚡ The Role of Geomagnetic Storms
A geomagnetic storm happens when:
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The Sun ejects charged particles (via solar flares or coronal mass ejections — CMEs).
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These particles travel through space and collide with Earth’s magnetic field.
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The disturbance in the magnetosphere funnels particles toward the poles.
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When they strike oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the upper atmosphere, they release photons of light → creating auroras.
🎨 Colors of the Aurora
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Green – oxygen at ~100 km altitude.
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Red – oxygen at higher altitudes (~200–300 km).
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Purple/Blue – nitrogen molecules.
🌍 Why Geomagnetic Storms Matter
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Strong geomagnetic storms make auroras visible much farther south (sometimes even in the U.S., Europe, or Asia).
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They can also disrupt satellites, GPS, radio signals, and power grids.
✅ In short: Geomagnetic storms supercharge the auroras, making them brighter, more colorful, and visible at lower latitudes.
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