what are the northern lights?

Question

serious answers only please...thanks

Answer 1

I have read many explanations that were hard for normal people to understand (including me) and the other day I answered a similar question but the person said it wasnt easily understood..so I have dug out my handy book that has the easiest and most understandable explanation I have ever found so I hope this helps!

The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis

The Aurora originates with energetic particles blasted in the Earth's direction by eruptions on the sun. Travelling at speeds of millions of miles per hour, these particles reach earth in a day or two, but instead of plunging directly into the atmosphere, they are deflected by the planets magnetic field. The particles then funnel along the magnetic lines of force, eventually entering the atmosphere over the magnetic poles, where interaction with upper-atmosphere molecules produces the aurora borealis and aurora australis -- the northern and southern lights. Trillions of watts of power are pumped into the upper atmosphere during an auroral display, creating not only the visible light but also heat, ionized particles and even intense (though far from dangerous) radiation. The great light show is generated when the high-energy electrons and protons emitted by solar flares are directed by the Earth's magnetic field lines into collision courses with the upper atmosphere. Atmospheric atoms and molecules hit by the inflowing particles become ionized by the impacts (electrons are knocked off) thereby absorbing some of the energy of the impinging particles. The ionized atoms and molecules soon return to a stable state by releasing the absorbed energy, often in the form of visible light. Auroral displays are a combination of these interactions at altitudes ranging from 60 to 600 miles, although the most sensational auroras occur about 70 miles from Earth, where the atmosphere is at the right density to produce the maximum effect. Auroral colours are caused by different types of atoms stimulated in this way. Oxygen emits a greenish white light or a red hue at extremely low atmospheric pressures; ionized molecular nitrogen produces a bluish tinge. Canada is the best place in the world for viewing auroras! (where I live yay!)

Description: Diaphanous curtains of green, white and red dance in the northern sky, billowing and swirling as if propelled by some distant cosmic wind. Some nights they look more like pulsing clouds or filmy arcs of light on the northern horizon. Or, more rarely the sky is alive with roiling luminescence whirling overhead.

Here are some pictures of the amazing aurora...if you have never seen it I hope somday you have the privilege to because it is unforgettable!!! http://images.google.ca/images?q=Aurora+Borealis&hl=en

Also go here for a more in depth scientifically worded explanation.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_borealis

Answer 2

This is a Traditional Scottish Song:

The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen

When I was a lad, a tiny wee lad, my mother said to me,
""Come see the Northern Lights my boy, they're bright as they can be.""
She called them the heavenly dancers, merry dancers in the sky,
I'll never forget that wonderful sight, they made the heavens bright.

cho: The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen are what I long to see
I've been a wand'rer all of my life and many a sight I've seen.
God speed the day when I'm on my way to my home in Aberdeen.

I've wandered in many far-off lands, and travelled many a mile,
I've missed the folk I've cherished most, the joy of a friendly smile.
It warms up the heart of the wand'rer the clasp of a welcoming hand.
To greet me when I return, home to my native land.

Answer 3

Northern Lights is a common name for the aurora borealis (polar aurorae) in the Northern Hemisphere

Answer 4

An amazing anomalies due to atmospheric conditions in the northern regions of the world. Check out these pics.

http://images.google.co.in/images?q=photos,+northern+lights&hl=en&hs=A8X&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=X&oi=images&ct=title

Answer 5

go on a cruise to the northern lights and experience the factor.

Answer 6

Check out wikipedia for a Lehman's term description and some cool photo's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_Borealis

Answer 7

northern lights are magnetic field of earth which glows

Answer 8

a potent strain of cannabis created in the 1980's by Nevil the founder of the seedbank in amsterdam.

Answer 9

a discharge of light when the solar winds are deflected by the earths magnetic poles.

Answer 10

like waves of light in the sky in the north pole