Scotland’s night skies have been illuminated by the stunning spectacle of the Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, as captured by BBC Weather Watchers in recent evenings. The vivid display of colours has been attributed to a surge in solar activity, with the auroras forecasted to continue their show over northern Scotland on Tuesday night, especially in areas like the Shetland Islands and north-west Scotland where clear skies prevail.
Previously considered a rare occurrence for people in the UK, witnessing the auroras has become more commonplace in recent years, with the year 2024 noted for its exceptional visibility due to a significant geomagnetic storm. Professor Sean Elvidge of the University of Birmingham highlighted the 2024 display as a result of heightened solar activity, advising enthusiasts to use long exposure cameras for optimal viewing and photography.
Aurora displays are a result of charged particles interacting with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere near the magnetic poles, emitting light at various wavelengths that create mesmerizing patterns in the sky. Typically seen at high polar latitudes, these displays are influenced by geomagnetic storms originating from solar activity. The recent surge in UK sightings has been attributed to the Sun’s peak in its 11-year solar cycle, leading to increased Coronal Mass Ejections that enhance the chances of witnessing the Northern Lights.
As the Sun continues to exhibit high activity with numerous sunspots, the likelihood of more Coronal Mass Ejections directed towards Earth remains high in the coming months. However, experts caution that visibility of the Northern Lights in the UK may gradually diminish post-peak solar activity, underscoring the need for avid stargazers to seize opportunities to witness this celestial phenomenon
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