The Aurora Borealis have stunned the nation this year, with dazzling light displays being visible as far south as Dorset, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Berkshire.
Increasing numbers of displays have been spotted, with more of the country able to take in the spectacular sights.
In short Aurora Borealis sightings have increased in recent years and the explanation is well known in the science community, according to the Met Office.
Krista Hammond, a Manager at the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC), said: “Activity on the sun, and in particular the number of visible sunspots, varies over roughly an 11-year period, known as the solar cycle.”
The last solar minimum, which is when the Sun had the lowest frequency of visible sunspots in the solar cycle, occurred in December 2019.
This means that the sun’s activity is currently increasing, with the next solar maximum expected around 2025.
As a result, more of the Sun’s electrically charged particles are travelling towards the Earth and getting caught in its magnetic field, thus producing more of the aurora effect.
Krista added: “Over the coming years, as we continue towards the solar maximum, we can expect to see an increase in the frequency of space weather events, with more chances to see the Aurora Borealis over the UK.”
What causes the Northern Lights?
The Royal Museums Greenwich explained: “Solar storms on our star’s surface give out huge clouds of electrically charged particles. These particles can travel millions of miles, and some may eventually collide with the Earth.
“Most of these particles are deflected away, but some become captured in the Earth’s magnetic field, accelerating down towards the north and south poles into the atmosphere. This is why aurora activity is concentrated at the magnetic poles.”
Royal Observatory astronomer, Tom Kerss added: “These particles then slam into atoms and molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere and essentially heat them up.
“We call this physical process ‘excitation’, but it’s very much like heating a gas and making it glow.”
Can I see the Northern Lights in the UK?
The Royal Museums Greenwich said: “The aurora borealis can be seen in the northern hemisphere, while the aurora australis is found in the southern hemisphere.
“While the best places to see the aurora are concentrated around the polar regions, the aurora borealis can sometimes be seen in the UK.
“The further north you are the more likely you are to see the display – but heightened solar activity has meant that the northern lights have been seen as far south as Cornwall and Brighton.
“The conditions do still need to be right however. Dark and clear nights, preferably with little light pollution, offer the best chance of seeing the aurora.”
