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SpitfireAce
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I'm just wondering whether anyone has any theories as to what causes the electrons in the Aurora Borealis to accelerate (emitting e.m radiation)?
FUNKER said:the sky is blue due to the fact that the blue end of the spectrum is scattered because the atmosphere is comprised of molecules that are of the order (in size) of the blue wavelength hence the blue light appears 'everywhere' overhead
Because it is 'dark in winter'?SpitfireAce said:whoops, I didn't notice that he wrote charged particles (I believe I thought it said "photons"), in any case... the sun is constantly emitting solar wind isn't it, why do we only see the aurora during the winter?
The solar wind is not constant but fluctuates and its strength varies depending on the phase of the 11 year sun-spot cycle.and why the complex swirls instead of just a ubiquitous green tint
Garth said:The size of the particles is such that they scatter the blue frequency most efficiently
The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, are caused by collisions between charged particles from the sun and gases in the Earth's atmosphere. These particles are drawn towards the Earth's magnetic poles, resulting in the colorful light display in the sky.
Electron acceleration during the Aurora Borealis is a result of the Earth's magnetic field interacting with the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the sun. This interaction causes the charged particles to spiral along the magnetic field lines, gaining energy and accelerating towards the Earth's atmosphere.
The Earth's atmosphere plays a crucial role in the Aurora Borealis. When the charged particles from the sun collide with the gases in the Earth's atmosphere, they emit light of different colors depending on the type of gas and its altitude. Oxygen produces green and red light, while nitrogen produces blue and purple light.
The strength of the solar wind, determined by the activity of the sun, directly affects the intensity of the Aurora Borealis. When the solar wind is stronger, it can push more charged particles towards the Earth, resulting in a more vibrant and widespread display. During periods of high solar activity, the Aurora Borealis can even be visible at lower latitudes than usual.
The Aurora Borealis can occur at any time of the year, but it is most visible during the winter months in the northern hemisphere and the summer months in the southern hemisphere. This is because the Earth's tilt causes its magnetic field to be more aligned with the solar wind during these seasons, increasing the likelihood of collisions and electron acceleration.