Northern Lights in US & Canada: Where And How to Watch Colourful Auroral Shows Over North America on Wednesday & Thursday Night
As per reports, a minor solar storm was expected to reach Earth on Wednesday (March 14) and last through Thursday, resulting in increased magnetosphere activity. However, several scientific organisations deny the fact that a solar storm would occur.
Washington, March 14: In what is believed to be a treat for the eyes, northern-most parts of the United States, Canada and some parts of Europe will witness Northern Lights for two days, beginning today. As per reports, a minor solar storm was expected to reach Earth on Wednesday (March 14) and last through Thursday, resulting in increased magnetosphere activity. However, several scientific organisations deny the fact that a solar storm would occur.
The phenomenon of 'Northern Lights' is believed to occur due to fast streams of energetic particles finally making their way to Earth from the sun. According to an alert from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Colorado, states in the "northern tier" of the United States, such as Michigan and Maine, could see northern lights from the amped-up auroral display. As per reports, the solar storm could also trigger fluctuations in some weak power grids but will have only a minor impact on satellites in space.
How do Northern Lights occur?
The green lights in the night sky often referred as ‘Northern Lights’ occur because of collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere. It may be noted that the lights are seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. In the north they are known as “aurora borealis,” and in the south as “aurora australis.”
In other words, whenever the sun experiences a solar storm, superheated plasma is emitted from its surface. This hot plasma, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME) has the capability to trigger a geomagnetic storm. This geomagnetic storm can cause solar flares, which are a release of magnetic energy, and cause the Earth’s Northern Lights to light up.
Where will the Northern Lights be visible?
As per a graph from the North Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it can be stated that states like North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin could also see the lights as a result of the storm. Moreover, northern-most part of Ireland, Norway, and parts of Sweden and Finland can see the lights.
Till when can you see the Northern Lights in US and Canada
Lasting from Wednesday through Thursday, the geomagnetic storm will also impact the Earth’s magnetic field. It must be noted that the magnetic field of the Earth is impacted by changing solar winds. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this activity may cause minor “power grid fluctuations” and have small impacts on orbiting satellites.
As per reports, this is a minor storm that has been classified as G1. Minor storms like G1, which is the lowest on the scale of intensity occur about 2,000 times over 11 years, amounting to more than 180 times per year. As per Space Weather Prediction Center, the highest level of this kind of storm is a G5, which would involve a “high-frequency radio blackout” on the sunlit side of the world for several hours. Those come once every 11 years.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 14, 2018 11:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).