TRADEGY: “The community is in mourning after a tragic avalanche in Ontario Aurora Chasers claimed lives.” SEE MORE.Major geomagnetic activity’: Why have the northern lights been so incredible across Ontario lately? Will we get another big show soon?What causes the northern lights?
The northern lights are caused by solar particles sent toward Earth by an explosion of energy on the sun’s surface. It’s when the ejected material interacts with Earth’s atmosphere that the beautiful colours dance in the sky.
“When a solar storm comes toward us, some of the energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into Earth’s atmosphere,” according to NASA. “There, the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green and red light.”
What causes the northern lights?
The northern lights are caused by solar particles sent toward Earth by an explosion of energy on the sun’s surface. It’s when the ejected material interacts with Earth’s atmosphere that the beautiful colours dance in the sky.
“When a solar storm comes toward us, some of the energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into Earth’s atmosphere,” according to NASA. “There, the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green and red light.”
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