Latest news with #Russell-McPherron
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Why Northern Lights displays are stronger around spring, autumn equinoxes
Aurora-chasing season has arrived with the spring equinox, a time when space weather experts say we are more likely to see vivid displays of the dancing technicolor lights known as the aurora borealis or Northern Lights. According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), the best times of year to see auroras are around the spring and fall equinoxes. Earth's astronomical seasons are based on the Earth's position with respect to the Sun, as our planet orbits our star. At the spring equinox in March and autumn equinox in September, the equator is aligned with the Sun. "Due to subtleties in the way the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetosphere, there is a tendency towards larger geomagnetic storms, and thus better auroras, to occur near the equinoxes," according to the SWPC. This increased Northern Lights activity around the equinoxes is known as the "Russell-McPherron effect," according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Geophysical Institute. UAF experts say the chances of seeing aurora in interior Alaska in March and September are roughly twice as high as they are during the summer and winter solstice. Even though there is a strong tendency to see more intense aurora around these times, this phenomenon is not fully understood. Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at NOAA's SWPC, said the reaction also depends on the type of space weather feature causing a geomagnetic storm. Coronal hole high-speed streams (CH HSS) or coronal mass ejections (CME) are solar events that can produce solar storms and Northern Lights on Earth. The SWPC issues space weather forecasts when these events appear to be headed toward Earth, and the spring equinox plays a role in those forecasts. "We see this routinely and we add it to our forecast thinking in the (SWPC) office," Dahl said. "And the overarching thing for the spring equinox is that you need the feature to be of negative polarity for that more pronounced effect to happen." Meanwhile, Dahl said a positive polarity is needed during the fall equinox. "The thinking of this is all the way connected to the southern pole, which is now positive. Polarity just enhances it," Dahl said. This week, the SWPC issued a G2 (Moderate) Geomagnetic Storm Watch on its five-point scale for a CH HSS headed toward Earth, but it was a positive polarity feature. Dahl said the forecast might have been upgraded if it had been negative polarity. The large coronal hole contains less dense, cooler plasma traveling at high speeds, streaming along the Sun's magnetic field lines toward Earth. When these charged particles interact with oxygen and nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere, they briefly energize the molecule, giving off light as they de-energize, producing colorful Northern article source: Why Northern Lights displays are stronger around spring, autumn equinoxes
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Aurora alert! Moderate geomagnetic storm could spark northern lights as far south as New York and Idaho tonight (March 25)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a geomagnetic storm warning for tonight (March 25) due to incoming turbulent solar weather. This is exciting news for aurora enthusiasts, as the expected G2-level storm could bring northern lights as far south as New York and Idaho. NOAA's SWPC forecasts the Kp index to peak at 5.67 over the next 24 hours, signaling strong geomagnetic activity. For the latest aurora forecast and timing updates, check NOAA's 3-day space weather outlook. The predicted increase in geomagnetic activity is driven by a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) — a turbulent area in the solar wind where fast-moving streams collide with slower wind ahead of them. CIRs can generate shock waves similar to those found in coronal mass ejections (CMEs), enhancing space weather effects. This particular CIR is fueled by a massive Earth-facing coronal hole in the sun's atmosphere. Coronal holes are regions where the sun's magnetic field opens up, allowing high-speed solar wind to escape freely into space. In ultraviolet images, these areas appear darker because they lack the hot, glowing gases typically trapped by magnetic fields, according to In more great news for aurora enthusiasts, this surge in geomagnetic activity comes at the perfect time. That's because Earth is currently in an ideal position for dazzling auroras, thanks to its proximity to the vernal equinox, which occurred on March 20. Auroras tend to be stronger around the equinoxes due to a phenomenon known as the Russell-McPherron effect. During this period, Earth's magnetic field can develop temporary "cracks," allowing even weak solar wind to penetrate and spark brilliant displays. Unlike other times of the year when Earth is tilted toward or away from the sun, the equinox brings a more neutral alignment. This allows the solar wind's magnetic field to interact more efficiently with Earth's, channeling energy into the atmosphere and enhancing auroral activity. We could be in for a spectacular show tonight, so keep your eyes on the skies! To stay updated on aurora activity, consider using a space weather app that provides real-time forecasts based on your location. A great option is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts" (available for iOS and Android). For a deeper dive into space weather conditions, "Space Weather Live" is another excellent choice (available for iOS and Android)
Forbes
25-03-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights: These 12 States May See ‘Equinox Auroras' On Tuesday
A G1-class geomagnetic storm is predicted by NOAA for Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Mathieu ... More Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images) The Northern Lights may be visible in northern skies from 11 northerly U.S. states on Tuesday, March 25, with turbulent solar wind expected to arrive at Earth. is reporting that a co-rotating interaction region — a transition zone between fast and slow-moving solar wind — is headed toward Earth. It's coming from a hole in the sun. A G1-class geomagnetic storm is predicted by NOAA to commence from around 15:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. EDT) and increase in intensity to G2 from 21:00-00:00 (17:00-20:00 p.m. EDT), making the peak viewing conditions convenient for North America. For context, the geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024, was rated a G5, the most powerful since 2003. NOAA's aurora viewline for Tuesday, March 25, 2025. If there is auroral activity, U.S. states within NOAA's aurora viewline are in the best position to see it. Those 12 states are Washington, northern Idaho, northern Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Vermont and Maine. Regions closest to the border with Canada will have the highest possibility of seeing the aurora. Observers away from light pollution are likely to get the best views, helped by the fact that the moon is currently not rising until a few hours after midnight. The surge of charged particles — which take a few days to reach Earth having left the sun — comes in the wake of a 'very strong' aurora prediction for Sunday that failed to materialize. Despite an intense display being predicted for Sunday, March 23, 2025, when it finally arrived it didn't spark the hoped-for geomagnetic storm. However, impressive auroras were seen in polar regions in the gathering light of dawn. A coronal hole, as seen on March 25, 2025, byt NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory. Late March and early April are traditionally seen as the end of the aurora-viewing season in polar regions, but it's very often the best time for nightly auroras. That's because of the Russell-McPherron effect, which explains that cracks open in Earth's magnetic field when the magnetic fields of Earth and the solar wind align, with more of the solar wind entering, causing geomagnetic storms. The result is that auroras are twice as likely around the equinoxes in late March and late September. Earth's magnetic field is at its weakest in the weeks after the equinox. Although space weather scientists can detect solar activity and CMEs leaving the sun, how fast these clouds of charged particles travel across the solar system is difficult to model precisely. It's only when the solar wind sweeps over detectors on NASA's DSCOVR and ACE satellites — situated about a million miles from Earth — that a roughly 30-minute warning can be given. Observers should check NOAA's 30-minute forecast and make use of the Glendale app. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Science
- BBC News
UK Northern Lights displays may ramp up around spring equinox
The Northern Lights were spotted widely from Scotland to Norfolk on Wednesday night and there may be more opportunities to see them in the coming combination of high solar activity and an effect that happens only around the equinox can boost the energy needed for the effect known as 'Russell-McPherron' is down to the alignment of the Sun and Earth around the spring and autumn equinox and means that you are twice as likely to see the aurora in spring and autumn than winter and the unfamiliar, that means the night sky could be lit up by bright swirling curtains of colour, from greens to pinks to scarlet. What causes the Northern Lights? The Sun is currently at a "maximum" in its 11-year solar lights illuminate skies across the UKWhy the aurora dazzled in 2024 and what 2025 has in storeThis means there are lots of sunspots on the surface which are like volcanoes and occasionally erupt - also known as Coronal Mass Ejections (CME's) - releasing extra material and energy out to directed towards Earth, our magnetic field pulls the energy into Earth, entering our atmosphere at the geomagnetic storms are scaled from one to five, with five being the most the energy is in our atmosphere, reactions with oxygen and nitrogen then bring the colours we associate with the aurora is always present around the North and South Poles - this is known as the auroral need these increases in solar energy, such as a moderate to severe geomagnetic storm for the ring to grow and expand to lower latitudes such as the UK. Russell-McPherron effect Spring equinox happens on 20 March this year and for a few weeks either side there is evidence of an enhancement to the Mike Lockwood, president of the Royal Astronomical Society told BBC Weather that "your chances of seeing aurora at low latitudes is enhanced at the equinoxes because of the Russell-McPherron effect".Earth is tilted on an axis of 23.5 degrees. On its orbit around the Sun, that tilt is either towards or away from the Sun at the solstices - which in the northern hemisphere is summer and winter the equinoxes in March and September, Earth is neither tilted towards or away from the Sun in relation to its varying Sun-Earth alignment throughout the year results in differences to the amount of solar energy that interacts with Earth's magnetic field and therefore changes the strength of aurora. As the solar wind - the stream of energy and particles which have their own magnetic field - interacts with Earth's magnetic field, a process called magnetic reconnection tiny bar magnets travelling through space that are in the correct north to south orientation so they are attracted to Earth's magnetic field."This reconnection process that lets the energy into Earth's environment and powers the aurora [facilitated at the equinox] means you get this extra coupling of energy" said Prof leads to stronger aurora compared to summer and winter when the alignment is less the extra energy of an Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejection and geomagnetic storm will increase chances even more. Vintage years for aurora With lots of geomagnetic storms, the last 12 months have been a pretty special time to see the Lockwood believes that "in the top ten [aurora] events in terms of how far equator-ward they got, three of them were last year (2024)".Though he admits comparing reports from recent years has got easier due to mobile phone and digital cameras being more sensitive to capturing the aurora than the naked he went on to say that no-one is denying 2024 was "a very very significant year for aurora".May 2024 was especially significant, with Nasa suggesting Earth experienced the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades - and was possibly among the strongest displays of aurora on record in the past 500 solar activity remaining high throughout 2025, there should still be many more opportunities to see the Northern Lights before activity starts to decrease towards the next solar minimum around 2030.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Northern Lights May Be Visible in the US This Week—Here's How to View the Equinox Auroras
The northern lights may be visible in the United States on March 20, the same day as the spring equinox. Auroral activity is typically more abundant during the spring and autumn equinox due to the Russell-McPherron effect. For your best chance of seeing the northern lights, find a dark spot after the sun sets with a clear view of the has been a great month for celestial events, from a rare Blood Moon total lunar eclipse to a beautiful view of Mercury. But the excitement isn't over—the northern lights may put on a colorful display this week for many stargazers across the country to enjoy. On March 20, the same day as the spring equinox, a coronal mass ejection (CME) might graze Earth's magnetic field, causing minor geomagnetic storms. While most of the CME will miss Earth, its flank (its sideways or lateral regions) may make contact, according to a model from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).The sun shines directly on Earth's equator during an equinox, resulting in nearly equal amounts of daylight and even a small blow from a CME can cause a geomagnetic storm during March due to the Russell-McPherron effect, which is named after the researchers who first explained this phenomenon in the 1970s. The Russell-McPherron effect happens around the spring and autumn equinox when magnetic fields on the sun and Earth can align, creating a tunnel for solar wind to flow directly into Earth's magnetosphere. According to a 75-year study found that geomagnetic activity is much higher in spring and fall than in winter and summer, meaning northern lights sightings are also typically more abundant. Per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), those in parts of Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, as well as Northern Washington, Idaho, Washington, South Dakota, and Maine, may be able to see the northern lights tomorrow. If you're interested in spotting the northern lights, you can use NOAA's aurora view line to track the geomagnetic storm. Finding a dark spot after the sun sets with a clear view of the sky will be your best bet for seeing the northern lights. Read the original article on Martha Stewart
