I have always been curious about the Northern Lights phenomenon; why and how do they occur?

Question

Is there such a thing as the "Southern Lights"?

Answer 1

The Northern Lights (aurora borealis) and Southern Lights (aurora australis) are both caused by charged particles from our sun. These high-speed, energetic particles are captured by Earth's magnetic field to subsequently interact with molecules in our atmosphere. The different colors of the aurora are caused by the various elements in the atmosphere.

Answer 2

Yes, down here in NZ we get the southern lights. The aurora are similar to a neon tube; electric current passing through a very thin gas. The current is charged particles (protons and electrons from the Sun) entering the Earth's atmosphere. The air starts to glow at a height of about 100 km, where it is about a millionth of sea level pressure. You only see the aurora fairly close to the north and south magnetic poles because the shape of the Earth's magnetic field funnels the charged particles to those two locations. So the Earth's magnetic field plays an important role in shielding most of us from incoming radiation.

Answer 3

The earth has a magnetic field. We all know this. The reason it exists is to redirect solar radiation.
Ever take a magnet and hold it under a piece of paper, then pour metal filings onto the paper. The filings fall into little lines showing the field of magnetic force. Well, harmful solar radiation, as well as solar flares, and cosmic radiation in general are redirected around the earth by its magnetic field. Other wise we would all fry due to excessive amounts of radiation.

The particles coming from the sun have inertia. So, they want to come straight line path into the earth. Instead of bouncing right around the magnetic field and being deflected back into space, some due to inertia come into and interact a bit with the magnetic field and our upper atmosphere creating (in my opinion rather beautiful) displays of another form of electromagnetic radiation: Light.

Answer 4

Aurora Borealis, northern lights, are the result of radiant emissions at either pole (north or south) and can be seen at there most potent below or above the 45th parallels. Southern lights are called Aurora Australis.

Answer 5

It's particles from the sun hitting the earths' atmosphere and yes it happens in the southern hemisphere too. Aurora borealis in the north and aurora australis in the south.

Answer 6

Solar flares react with our magnetic field causing the northern lights. no, there are no southern lights because the magnetic field is in the north.

Answer 7

it is rapidly shifting patches and dancing columns of light of various hues. Extensive auroral displays are accompanied by disturbances in terrestrial magnetism and interference with radio, telephone, and telegraph transmission. The periods of maximum and minimum intensity of the aurora coincide almost exactly with those of the sunspot cycle, which is an 11-year cycle.

Answer 8

Ok, so there are solar flares right... well they give out heaps of magnetic radiation, and that radiation travels heaps, like to earth... and then SPLAT it hits our atmosphere, and like any good substance ozzes down to somewhere it likes, for instance our magnetic poles... that's why u get them more often there

Answer 9

Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(astronomy)

Answer 10

Not sure...But they look super trippy