As the Northern Lights flash, they send
100,000-ampere electric currents
throughout the northern upper atmosphere. The magnetic fields associated with those currents can reach down to induce electric currents that speed up corrosion of the 800-mile Alaska oil pipeline.
What is bad about the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights occur so high up in the atmosphere that they don’t pose any threat to people watching them from the ground. The aurora itself
is not harmful to humans
but the electrically charged particles produced could have some potentially negative effects to infrastructure and technology.
What is the cause and effect of the Northern Lights?
Bottom line: When charged particles from the sun strike atoms in Earth’s atmosphere, they cause electrons in the atoms to move to a higher-energy state.
When the electrons drop back to a lower energy state, they release a photon: light
. This process creates the beautiful aurora, or northern lights.
How do aurora borealis affect the earth?
aurorae
disturb the atmosphere
and this affects radio waves that are communicating information around the world. The solar wind adds its own magnetic energy to that of the Earth and when they combine they can blow out electric wires and cables! The Earth’s atmosphere actually expands slightly when aurorae are around.
Why shouldn’t you whistle at the Northern Lights?
Thought to be the souls of the dead, the Sámi believed you shouldn’t talk about the Northern Lights. It was also
dangerous to tease them
by waving, whistling or singing under them, as this would alert the lights to your presence. If you caught their attention, the lights could reach down and carry you up into the sky.
Do the Northern Lights happen every night?
There is no official season since
the Northern Lights are almost always present, day and night
. Caused by charged particles from the sun hitting atoms in Earth’s atmosphere and releasing photons, it’s a process that happens constantly.
How long do the Northern Lights last?
The Northern Lights most commonly appear between 5:00 pm and 2:00 am. They don’t usually exhibit for long – they may only show for a few minutes, then glide away before returning. A good display may last for
no longer than 15-30 minutes at a time
, although if you’re really lucky, they could last for a few hours.
How do you know when the Northern Lights will appear?
2. The Northern Lights are unpredictable. In order to see the Northern Lights, you need a dark, clear night. They are visible from
late August to early April anytime during dark hours
, which in places like Abisko or Tromsø can be nearly 24 hours a day in winter.
What are Northern Lights caused by?
As
the protons and electrons from the solar wind hit the particles in the Earth’s atmosphere
, they release energy – and this is what causes the northern lights.
What is the reason of Northern Lights?
It is a true curiosity of the natural world and a major tourist attraction. But the reason behind the origin of the northern lights has
been a mystery
. What causes this very specific light phenomenon that occurs in the Earth’s polar regions has been speculated but never proven, until now.
How often does Aurora Borealis happen?
“Active periods are typically about 30 minutes long, and occur every two hours, if the activity is high. The aurora is
a sporadic phenomenon
, occurring randomly for short periods or perhaps not at all.”
What happens if you touch aurora borealis?
The aurora is emitted between 90 and 150 km in altitude (i.e. mostly above the ‘official’ boundary of space, 100 km), so ungloving your hand inside an
aurora would likely be fatal
(unless a fellow astronaut immediately reattaches your glove and repressurizes your suit).
Which is the best place to see aurora?
- Tromso, Norway. Based in the heart of the aurora zone in the Norwegian Arctic, the city is widely regarded as one of the world’s best places to see the Northern Lights. …
- Swedish Lapland. …
- Reykjavik, Iceland. …
- Yukon, Canada. …
- Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland. …
- Ilulissat, Greenland.
Can you hear the aurora borealis?
The northern lights do make noises that can be heard down on the ground
. … Other people who have heard the auroral sounds have described them as distant noise and sputter. “Because of these different descriptions, researchers suspect that there are several mechanisms behind the formation of these auroral sounds.
Is it rude to whistle?
Whistling a song is ok, whistling at someone to get their attention is rude beyond belief.
Wolf whistling is rude
, but I like a nice tune… you’re forced to.
What did the Vikings call the Northern Lights?
The Old Norse word for the aurora borealis is
norðrljós
, “northern lights”.
