Are aurora phenomena often caused by sunspots?

The Northern Lights, usually visible only in the Arctic and Antarctic, have fascinated and intrigued humanity for centuries and will continue to attract interest in the future.

The shimmering halos of the Northern Lights (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the Southern Lights (in the Southern Hemisphere) have recently created spectacular light shows.

During the last days of February and early March, many photographers and observers of the night sky in the northern hemisphere have captured these colorful spectacles in places further south (or on the contrary, if in the southern hemisphere they will be seen north) compared to normal such as Colorado, United States, southeast England and New South Wales, Australia. The pilots controlled the plane to circle in the middle of the trip so passengers could see the phenomenon more clearly.

The Northern Lights were photographed on the night of February 27 above Souter Lighthouse in South Shields.

The Northern Lights were photographed on the night of February 27 above Souter Lighthouse in South Shields, northeast England. (Photo: CNN).

Sunspots

Auroras are the result of the Sun’s activities, specifically a type of solar storm called CME (coronal ejection) that releases gas and charged particles into the air. When these charged particles reach the “shield” of Earth’s magnetic field at the North and South Poles (which usually takes about three days), they enter the atmosphere.

From there, particles and energy interact with gases in the atmosphere, creating multi-colored light in the sky. Oxygen gas corresponds to green light (the most commonly observed color), as well as red (according to Aurora Watch, Lancaster University, UK). During this time, nitrogen gas emits blue and violet light, according to the United States Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In favorable weather conditions, observing the aurora will be easier.

Sunstorm

When a solar storm moves toward us, some of the energy and small particles can move within the magnetic field “shield” at the North and South Poles and interact with Earth’s atmosphere. (Illustrative photo: Science Learning Hub, New Zealand).

Researchers at NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory say they detected two M-class solar flares on March 3 and 4 that caused CME storms, which in turn increased solar activity. Magnetic earthquakes – leading to the phenomenon of magnetic auroras. Epidemics are classified from small to large according to levels: A, B, C, M and X is the maximum level, according to NASA.

Solar storms of this type also occasionally disrupt the operation of artificial satellites and communications on Earth.

This increase in geomagnetic activity is caused by a sunspot on the surface of the Sun (sunspot – the phenomenon has been recorded as early as 800 BC). This black dot “large and complex in terms of schools” called AR3234according to the British Meteorological Agency.

Northern Lights scene in Anchorage, Alaska (United States)

View of the Northern Lights in Anchorage, Alaska (USA), taken by resident Stephanie Quinn-Davidson.

How common are the Northern Lights?

This intense period of geomagnetic field phenomena should begin to subside. This means there will be fewer northern and southern lights after the last few days of intense auroral activity.

In coming years, the northern lights may appear to move south more often, according to Robert Massey, executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The Sun goes through an 11-year cycle during which the level of solar flare and storm activity fluctuates. Cycle 25, the most recent, began in December 2019 with a batch that solar minimumwhen the Sun is active but quieter and has fewer sunspots.

Auroras have been recorded across the UK

Auroras have been recorded across the UK, including southern areas of the country. (Photo: Twitter)

We move forward solar maximumis expected to begin in July 2025, when a large number of sunspots will appear and solar activities will increase in quantity.

Robert Massey says solar phenomena that create auroras will become more common as we approach peak energy. Other planets in the solar system also have auroras.

Jupiter is bathed in stunning colors at the poles, although the mechanism that creates auroras on this planet is different from that on Earth, according to a 2021 study.

Article source: PNVN