How does the sun affect auroras?

The sun plays a major role in the formation of auroras, also known as the Northern and Southern Lights. Auroras are created when charged particles from the sun collide with the Earth's magnetic field and enter the atmosphere. The sun constantly emits a stream of charged particles known as the solar wind, which can create geomagnetic storms that intensify the Earth's magnetic field and increase the likelihood of auroral displays.

When the charged particles from the solar wind interact with the Earth's magnetic field, they can cause it to vibrate and create waves of energy that travel towards the poles. These waves of energy can then interact with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere, causing them to emit light and produce the colorful displays that we see as auroras.

The intensity and frequency of auroras are directly related to solar activity, including sunspots and solar flares. During times of high solar activity, there is an increase in the number of charged particles that reach the Earth, leading to more frequent and intense auroras.