Title: Northern Lights Show Alert: 90% Chance to Witness Aurora Borealis in the UK Tomorrow
The Northern Lights could be visible again in the UK tomorrow as the Met Office issued a 90% chance alert. The bands of pink and green light, also known as aurora borealis, were seen across the UK and in parts of Europe last week.
Significant Space Weather Activity Expected
An extreme geomagnetic storm caused them to be more visible, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). But Brits were disappointed this weekend after the phenomenon failed to dazzle the country’s skies despite forecasts. Now the Met Office have said more significant space weather activity is expected to occur on Monday night.
Aurora Forecast
NO significant space weather activity is expected on Sunday night into Monday, with aurora sightings unlikely. An enhancement to the aurora may occur on Monday night following the possible arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME) that left the sun late Friday. Following any CME arrival, aurora may become visible across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Following this auroral activity is expected to decline, although some slight enhancement to the aurora at times can’t be ruled out.
Increased Solar Activity and Aurora Frequency
Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles. The sun is currently in the most active period of its 11-year cycle. Met Office space weather expert Krista Hammond said, “If we see more sunspots, we see this increased frequency in space weather and therefore the aurora.”
Chances of Future Sightings
The forecaster downplayed the chances of a full repeat of last weekend’s display but said more solar activity would mean a good chance of sightings in the coming weeks, months, and years. Where displays can be seen in the UK is dictated by the strength of geomagnetic storming. She mentioned that it was a unique set of circumstances that led to last weekend’s display, making a full repeat unlikely.
What Are the Northern Lights?
Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles. In the northern hemisphere, most of this activity takes place within a band known as the aurora oval. When activity is strong, this expands to cover a greater area, explaining why displays can be occasionally seen as far south as the UK. The visibility of the Northern Lights was increased last Friday because of an extreme geomagnetic storm, according to NOAA. The phenomena appear as beautiful dancing green and purple ribbons of light that have captivated people for millennia.