In recent months, much of the UK has been delighted by spectacular Northern Light (Aurora Borealis) displays.
Although typically only possible to see in the north of the UK, the south of the country has also been treated with regular sightings recently, with displays spotted as far south as Kent and East Anglia.
The Northern Lights are caused by electrically charged particles from the Sun travelling millions of miles and getting caught in the Earth’s magnetic field.
These particles accelerate down towards the north and south poles into the atmosphere, which essentially heats them up and creates the effect.
The different colours in the atmosphere are caused by different gases burning as part of this process with green being characteristic of oxygen while hints of purple, blue or pink are caused by nitrogen, Royal Museums Greenwich reports.
As sightings of the Northern Lights increase, you might be wondering why it's even visible in the south of the UK.
Why are we seeing the Northern Lights more and so far south?
How far the Northern Lights can be seen depends on the display of coronal mass ejection, as Prof Jim Wild from Lancaster University shares with the BBC.
He explained: "The bigger the coronal mass ejection from the Sun, the wider the area around the poles in which particles enter the atmosphere."
He adds that means when the auroras have a bigger ejection, they will be possible to be seen in lower latitudes, sharing that "they have been seen as far south as the Caribbean."
RECOMMENDED READING
Will the Northern Lights be visible in the UK tonight?
Why have Aurora Borealis sightings increased this year?
Krista Hammond, a Manager at the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC), explains: "Activity on the sun, and in particular the number of visible sunspots, varies over roughly 11 years, known as the solar cycle."
She adds: "Over the coming years, as we continue towards the solar maximum, we can expect to see an increase in the frequency of space weather events, with more chances to see the Aurora Borealis over the UK."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel