Context:
- Auroras, often associated with polar regions, have recently been observed in Ladakh.
Key Points:
Understanding Auroras
What are Auroras?
- Auroras are natural light displays predominantly seen in high-latitude regions around the Arctic and Antarctic.
- They occur when charged particles from solar winds interact with the Earth's magnetosphere. These particles collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in vibrant colors—typically green, red, blue, and violet—depending on the type of gas involved and its altitude.
- Oxygen at higher altitudes can produce red and purple hues, while lower altitudes yield green lights.
Types of Auroras
- Aurora Borealis: Commonly known as the Northern Lights, visible near the North Pole.
- Aurora Australis: Known as the Southern Lights, visible near the South Pole.
Recent Sightings in Ladakh
- Recently, a geomagnetic storm led to remarkable aurora sightings over Leh, Ladakh. This event was triggered by a powerful coronal mass ejection from an X1.8 solar flare that occurred. The coronal mass ejection traveled at speeds exceeding 1.5 million miles per hour and reached Earth shortly after, causing a severe geomagnetic storm classified as G4 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The Science Behind Auroras
Solar activity and Geomagnetic Storms
Auroras are closely linked to solar activity. Solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections are responsible for creating conditions conducive to auroral displays. When these solar events occur, they release large amounts of energy and charged particles into space. If directed towards Earth, these particles can interact with our planet's magnetic field, leading to geomagnetic storms that increase auroral activity.
- Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs): Massive bursts of solar wind and magnetic fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space.
- Solar Flares: Sudden eruptions of energy on the sun's surface that can affect space weather.
The recent auroras in Ladakh were attributed to multiple Coronal Mass Ejections that impacted Earth simultaneously, resulting in intensified geomagnetic activity.