Looking up at an illuminated night sky—an aurora of pinks, purples, greens, blues, and teals. My eyes were glued to the unusual event of Northern lights in New England
The northern lights are usually visible in the “Auroral zone,” which includes places like Iceland, Greenland, Sweden, Northern Norway, Finland, Alaska, Northern Canada, and some parts of Russia. However. November 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th, the northern lights were seen in places around the world no one would suspect. According to NPR, “The Aurora Borealis was spotted in a large swath of states, including Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington state. Northern lights were visible as far south as parts of Florida and Alabama, a relatively rare occurrence that highlights the severity of this week’s storms.”
As the geomagnetic storms intensified, social media filled with pictures of the Northern lights, from backyards to parking lots. For many people, it was their first time seeing the aurora, an experience usually only seen in the northern areas. According to scientists, the powerful solar flares sent charged particles towards Earth, which interfered with the Earth’s magnetic field, causing unusually strong auroral activity.
While the Northern lights created gorgeous views, experts also saw potential risk. The New York Times says, “When directed toward Earth, this activity can cause disturbances — a geomagnetic storm — in the planet’s magnetosphere, the protective bubble that shields us from harmful solar radiation.”
With more solar activity predicted as the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year cycle, scientists say that Northern lights sightings may become more common in the coming months.
