what causes aurora borealis or northern lights?

Question

is it harmful to earth or is it an effect of something dreadful happening to earth?

Answer 1

Ionization of the atmosphere by the sun

Answer 2

This is straight out of Wikipedia: The aurora is a bright glow observed in the night sky, usually in the polar zone. For this reason some scientists call it a "polar aurora" (or "aurora polaris"). In northern latitudes, it is known as the aurora borealis (IPA /ɔˈɹɔɹə bɔɹiˈælɪs/), which is named after the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for north wind, Boreas. Especially in Europe, it often appears as a reddish glow on the northern horizon, as if the sun were rising from an unusual direction. The aurora borealis is also called the northern lights since it is only visible in the North sky from the Northern Hemisphere. The aurora borealis most often occurs from September to October and from March to April. Its southern counterpart, aurora australis, has similar properties. It has no detrimental effects and is not indicative of any problems.

Answer 3

The aurora borealis is only half of it. The other half is the aurora australis or southern lights. It is exactly the same phenomenon. Ionised particles from the solar wind are deflected by the earth's magnetic field towards the magnetic poles. We see them as the aurora.

Very big disturbances on the surface of the Sun can cause spectacular auroras and these can often be seen in low latitudes. Such solar flares can also disrupt radio communication and cause problems with electricity grids. The aurora itself is harmless.

Answer 4

Northern lights is the name of a light phenomenon often seen in the northern regions. The lights have been around since Earth formed an atmosphere -the dinosaurs saw it, early humans saw it and our descendants will se it. The scientific name for the phenomenon is “Aurora Borealis”, aurora for short.

read more on the webpage
http://www.northern-lights.no/

Answer 5

What Causes An Aurora

Answer 6

It consists of charged particles emmited by the sun at all times. They are minute particles that glow and resemble curtains of blue light as the reach the aptmosphere of rhe earth in the northern latitudes at night. In centuries past ,they were called St Elmo's fire. They are harmless to humans and create a spectacle that is awe inspiring. They will not harm you

Answer 7

I believe it has to do with gases and molecules becoming exited. The rotation of the earth cause them to work toward the poles which is why there are seen in Alaska. Read " A ShortHistory of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson? I think. It discusses a lot of these type issues.

Answer 8

It is normal and has gone for millions of years. That is part of the forming of the ozone layer. Where the solar winds and the earth's magnetic field collide it farms our ozone layer or the Van Allen belt. When the sun is very active the particles coming in at the poles become intense enough to see them .

Answer 9

No, it's not harmful....completely natural. They are caused by solar winds reacting with our atmosphere. Something along those lines. I live in nothern Canada, I see them all the time. Beautiful.
If you want a more scientific explanation, look it up on Wikipedia or something.

Answer 10

Check out this website from the Geophysical Institute at the Univ. of Alaska. They do auroral research. It should answer all your questions.