Northern Lights Spectacular: The Science Behind the Northern Lights
Have you ever wondered how the northern lights appear? Unique solar events occasionally allow northern US states to see the northern lights.
Parts of the Midwest and Northeast states may see the northern lights Sunday night, according to a warning sent by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.
Prediction Center forecasts indicate that residents as far south as Nebraska and central Iowa may be able to see the northern lights if conditions allow. The expansion of the lights is affected by a coronal mass ejection from the sun that scintillates a strong geomagnetic storm.
NASA describes coronal mass ejections as “huge bubbles of coronal plasma bolted by strong magnetic field lines ejected from the Sun over several hours”. The space agency says they often look like a “huge, twisted rope” and can occur with solar flares or explosions on the sun's surface.
The line of sight for the stellar event will recede on Monday, as forecasts show the southernmost point of the line of sight will cut across central Minnesota.
“Mitigation of potential impacts”
The Prediction Center said in a statement that the general public need not worry about increased geomagnetic activity, but warned infrastructure operators to “take measures to mitigate potential impacts.”
The announcement also said there may be some potential technological impacts on the power grid and the spacecraft.
Sunday morning show and future appearance
The lights made their appearance in the northwest corner of the country on Sunday morning. Weather watchers captured the lights in Washington and Wyoming.
But Sunday may not be the only time conditions are right for the aurora to make a southern appearance.
The solar forces that cause the spectacular sky phenomena are projected to peak next year at a more intense level than previously thought, forecasters from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center announced Friday.
“Solar activity will increase faster and peak at a higher level than a panel of experts predicted in December 2019,” the forecast center said in a statement. “The updated forecast now calls for Solar Cycle 25 to peak between January and October 2024.
Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY
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