Patterns of the Aurora


http://science.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/Science/Images/Content/aurora-manitoba-686091-sw.jpg

After Space particles get caught in the field they are jettisoned
 to the north or south pole. It is here that these particles collide
with atoms in our own atmosphere. Like a light bulb the
electrons from space excite the atoms in our atmosphere
and cause them to emit light (as shown in the diagram below)



http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/fluorescent-lamp-atom.gif

These space particles get discharged into our atmosphere due
to the electric potential difference in the earths magnetic feild.
Having many particles and a high electric potential difference
guarentees that these space particles are carrying a lot of energy.


 
The Aurora appears to flow across the sky for two reasons.
The first reason being that the earths magnetic field doesn't
rotate with the earth below it. So much like why the earth is spinning
the northern lights maintian their position in the sky because there is simply
nothing pushing them like the earth is pushing us.


http://astrobob.areavoices.com/files/2013/05/Auroral-oval-ovation-May-17.jpg & http://asset1.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2012/01/24/G1_620x698.jpg


The two images of auroral activity mapped over a long time
show two things. The aurora does not like the sunlight, and that
most maps are very American centric.

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