Auroras are caused by the interaction of energetic particles (electrons and protons) of the solar wind with atoms of the upper atmosphere . ... These charged particles move in spirals along the magnetic field lines. Those particles in turn hit the atmosphere.
What are auroras produced by?
In the ionosphere, the ions of the solar wind collide with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen from the Earth’s atmosphere. The energy released during these collisions causes a colorful glowing halo around the poles—an aurora.
What part of the atmosphere has auroras?
The aurora (Northern Lights and Southern Lights) mostly occur in the thermosphere . The thermosphere is a layer of Earth’s atmosphere. The thermosphere is directly above the mesosphere and below the exosphere. It extends from about 90 km (56 miles) to between 500 and 1,000 km (311 to 621 miles) above our planet.
What causes the aurora where in the atmosphere does it take place?
What causes the aurora? The “northern lights” are caused by collisions between fast-moving particles (electrons) from space and the oxygen and nitrogen gas in our atmosphere. These electrons originate in the magnetosphere, the region of space controlled by Earth’s magnetic field.
Where are auroras found?
So the best places to see auroras are near the magnetic poles. These include areas of northern Greenland , the Scandinavian coast, Siberia (brrr!), and Alaska in the north, and Antarctica in the south.
Which two main gases make up the atmosphere?
Earth’s atmosphere is composed of about 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, 0.9 percent argon, and 0.1 percent other gases . Trace amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and neon are some of the other gases that make up the remaining 0.1 percent.
What is the coldest layer of the atmosphere?
Mesosphere , coldest layer of Earth’s atmosphere.
Which is the hottest layer of atmosphere?
The thermosphere is often considered the “hot layer” because it contains the warmest temperatures in the atmosphere. Temperature increases with height until the estimated top of the thermosphere at 500 km. Temperatures can reach as high as 2000 K or 1727 oC in this layer (Wallace and Hobbs 24).
What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
The most abundant naturally occurring gas is Nitrogen (N 2 ) , which makes up about 78% of air. Oxygen (O 2 ) is the second most abundant gas at about 21%. The inert gas Argon (Ar) is the third most abundant gas at . 93%.
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).
Why is the Aurora Green?
Most solar particles typically collide with our atmosphere at an altitude of around 60 to 150 miles where there are high concentrations of oxygen. When the Oxygen is “excited” at these altitudes it causes the Aurora to appear in shades of green.
What causes auroras on Earth?
The short answer to how the aurora happens is that energetic electrically charged particles (mostly electrons) accelerate along the magnetic field lines into the upper atmosphere , where they collide with gas atoms, causing the atoms to give off light.
Where is the best place in the world to see the northern lights?
The best places in the world are usually closer to the Arctic Circle , including Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden and Finland. But don’t limit yourself: You can also spot the southern lights in the southern hemisphere. Still, the northern lights are the star of the show.
Does aurora mean Rose?
Aurora was the ancient Roman goddess of the dawn . Aurora Borealis is a name for the Northern Lights. Nicknames for Aurora include Arie, Rory, and Aura. The most famous fictional Aurora is Princess Aurora from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty also known as Briar Rose.
Can aurora borealis be seen from space?
Auroras seem to spread and sway across the sky above us. But to astronauts in the space shuttle above the earth, auroras seem to cling to the surface below . ... The space shuttle, in its “low earth” orbit 250 kilometers above Earth’s surface, is a great spot for observing auroras from above the polar regions.
What is the main function of the atmosphere?
Atmosphere is essential for life on Earth as it supplies oxygen, water, CO 2 and some nutrients (N) to living organisms , and protects living organisms from temperature extremes and excessive UV radiation.
