December 17, 2023
Increased solar activity has led to widespread aurora borealis across Canada.
A surge in solar activity in mid-December 2023 caused energetic particles to collide with Earth’s magnetosphere, creating rippling auroras across Earth’s northern latitudes. VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite)
NOAA–
NASA
The Suomi NPP satellite captured this image of light from the aurora borealis over western Canada in the early morning hours of December 17, 2023. VIIRS’s day/night band detects nighttime light at wavelengths ranging from green to near-infrared, using filtering techniques to observe signals such as city lights, moonlight reflections, and the aurora borealis.
Origin of the aurora borealis
These auroras may have resulted from several coronal mass ejections.
observed December 14th and 15th.mild to moderate
Magnetic storm situation Weather forecasts were expected within days, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
coronal mass ejection contains large amounts of
plasma It is emitted from the sun’s corona and carries an embedded magnetic field.Interactions between these emissions from the Sun and Earth’s upper atmosphere
produce light Produces a colorful aurora.
Increased solar activity
Solar activity is increasing as we approach the peak of solar cycle 25, which is predicted to occur on or around the year 25.
July 2025. The Sun’s magnetic field reverses at the peak of these cycles, and each cycle lasts about 11 years. Scientists track fluctuations in solar activity by monitoring the number and location of sunspots, the dark spots on the sun’s surface that are the main cause of solar eruptions.
Relationship between aurora and solar flares
The aurora seen here occurred several days after the aurora borealis.
strongest solar flare How has this solar cycle been so far? While coronal mass ejections take days to reach Earth, solar flares can reach Earth in minutes and disrupt radio communications. Coronal mass ejections often, but not always, occur in parallel with solar flares.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin using VIIRS day/night data from the Suomi National Polar Orbiting Partnership.
Source: scitechdaily.com
