The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a natural light display seen primarily in high-latitude regions near the Arctic and Antarctic. This stunning phenomenon occurs when charged particles from the Sun interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. As these particles collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, primarily oxygen and nitrogen, they release energy in the form of light. The different colors of the auroras green, red, blue, and purple depend on the type of gas and the altitude at which the interaction occurs.
Why Do They Appear in Specific Locations
The Northern Lights are most visible in areas near the magnetic poles, such as Norway, copyright, and Alaska, because these regions lie within the auroral oval the region where the Earth’s magnetic field is strongest. The particles from the Sun are funneled toward the poles by the Earth’s magnetic field, making these areas the most likely to experience the auroras. While the Southern Hemisphere also experiences a similar phenomenon called the Aurora Australis, it is much less commonly seen due to the lack of land near the South Pole to observe it. Shutdown123