How are auroras formed simple?

How are auroras formed simple?

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.

What causes aurora to occur?

What Causes the Aurora? Auroras result from emissions of photons in the Earth’s upper atmosphere (above 80 km, or 50 mi), from ionized nitrogen atoms regaining an electron, and from oxygen and nitrogen atoms returning from an excited state to ground state.

What is aurora in thermosphere?

The aurora (Northern Lights and Southern Lights) mostly occur in the thermosphere. 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 is aurora in sky?

An aurora is a colorful light show in the sky caused by the Sun. Auroras happen when particles from the Sun interact with gases in our atmosphere, causing beautiful displays of light in the sky. Auroras are often seen in areas near the North Pole or South Pole. These lights are called auroras.

How are aurora produced quizlet?

Auroras are caused by the interactions of the particles ejected from the Sun and the earth’s magnetosphere. constant stream of particles flowing from the Sun is known as the solar wind.

Which layer is responsible for aurora formation?

the thermosphere
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.

Where do auroras happen?

Auroras happen when particles from the Sun interact with gases in our atmosphere, causing beautiful displays of light in the sky. Auroras are often seen in areas near the North Pole or South Pole. If you’re ever near the North or South Pole, you may be in for a very special treat.

How often do auroras occur?

“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 is aurora phenomenon?

aurora, luminous phenomenon of Earth’s upper atmosphere that occurs primarily in high latitudes of both hemispheres; in the Northern Hemisphere auroras are called aurora borealis, aurora polaris, or northern lights, and in the Southern Hemisphere they are called aurora australis or southern lights. Fast Facts.

What causes the aurora borealis and aurora australis?

The famous Northern and Southern Lights — Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis for those Latin lovers among us — are caused by high-energy particles from the Sun cascading down on Earth. As they near our planet, they interact with Earth’s magnetic field, which channels them toward the north and south magnetic poles.

What are the auroras and how are they formed?

The aurora borealis (northern lights) form when charged particles emitted from the sun during a solar flare penetrate the earth’s magnetic shield and collide with atoms and molecules in our atmosphere. These collisions result in countless little bursts of light, called photons, which make up the aurora. Collisions with oxygen produce red and green auroras, while nitrogen produces the pink and purple colors.

How do auroras affect life on 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.

How does the sun create auroras on Earth?

As the temperature on its surface rises and falls, the sun boils and bubbles. Particles escape from the star from the sunspot regions on the surface, hurtling particles of plasma, known as solar wind, into space. It takes these winds around 40 hours to reach Earth. When they do, they can cause the dramatic displays known as the aurora borealis .

How are auroras frequently seen?

Originating in an atmospheric layer high above the surface of the Earth, auroras are generally seen at altitudes between 100 km and 500km. They are most frequently seen in the auroral ovals, which are two rough circles centered on the magnetic poles of the Earth with a diameter of about 3000 km.