Creation of Northern and Southern Lights

People that live towards the north and south poles have most likely experienced what is called the northern or southern lights. Here in turtleford I personally haven't experience them. Whose to say they do not occur here just because I haven't seen them. Back where I am from which is more north then here I saw the northern lights many times. I always wondered what created thse amazing displays of colors. Near the north pole the northern lights are referred to as aurora borealis. What causes these displays of "dancing colors" is this. High speed particles collide with atoms in Earth's atmosphere at a height of anywhere from 50 to a few hundred miles above the surface. These high speed particles or electrons are orginated from space specifically from solar wind generated from the sun. When the electrons from space strike atoms in the Earth's atmosphere they give of the electrons in the atom an energy boost. After a while these boosted electrons return to their normal energy level. It releases this energy as light causing the northern lights.

Electrons do not travel in straight lines. The magnetic force causes electrons to travel in spiral paths around magnetic field lines. Therefore electrons enter Earth's atmosphere at the north and south poles and this is why is most visible to see the northern and southern lights near the poles.