Polar Lights In North US

The beauty of the northern lights is not limited to the earth poles. There are areas in the upper Midwest where you can also see the Northern lights.

The cause of this is that the Earth's magnetic field is weakest around the poles. It is known as the auroral oval. Along the curved edges, charged particles released by solar flares enter Earth's atmosphere and create a magnificent nighttime spectacle, colliding with oxygen and nitrogen, generating a breathtaking sight.

Image 1: Several points in the northern US are now tourist destinations where you can see the auroras.Image 1: Several points in the northern US are now tourist destinations where you can see the auroras.

Although the aurora magic occurs far to the north, on some occasions, the auroral oval occurs as far south as Cleveland and Chicago.

The darkness is also the secret. The night lights around the new moon are better than the bright lights of the full moon. Although, this depends on the solar and magnetic activity of the Earth.

From northern Minnesota to the Upper Michigan Peninsula and beyond, up to 200 auroral episodes can be seen each year, weather permitting.

The possibility of seeing the lights in the sky increases as you travel north, towards the pole. Therefore, the places to enjoy the aurora in the USA are close to the border with Canada. 

These places include the Panhandle National Forest in Idaho, the National Wildlife Refuge in Maine, Cook County in Minnesota, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Mount Washington Valley in New Hampshire; The ethereal episodes of auroras frequently occur during winter when it is cold. Many parts of Alaska are visible due to its polar nature.

Image 2: Northern Lights in Cook County, Minnesota.Northern Lights in Cook County, Minnesota.

If you want to get a good shot of these auroras, I recommend you look for the occurrence of a geomagnetic storm; with them, the chances of seeing an aurora increase a huge. Additionally, these storms are periods of giant solar discharges that hit the Earth's magnetic field and cause more diverse and powerful auroras.

The displays of auroras are happening in the USA due to the displacement of the auroral oval, which encompasses various northern lands. In addition, the occurrence is typical when the Earth is right in the path of a high-speed solar wind current, which causes it a greater area of ​​coverage across the entire oval.

The shifting of the Earth's rotating and magnetic poles can cause the polar zones to shift to different areas in the region, which means that auroras may appear in unexpected places in the future.

Image 3: The area that is colored shows the appearance probability of the aurora; may vary.The area that is colored shows the probability of the appearance of the aurora; the approximations may vary.

References

  • Claire Volkman. Five Place To See The Aurora In United States. VisitUsa. Link https://www.visittheusa.co/experience/Five-Place-To-See-The-Aurora-In-United-States
  • Strong Auroras Likely All Weekend In Northern US States As Geomagnetic Storm Strikes On Equinox – Forbes. Jamie Carter. Mar 20, 2021,01:31pm EDT. Link https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2021/03/20/strong-auroras-likely-all-weekend-in-northern-us-states-as-geomagnetic-storm-strikes-on-equinox/?sh=2f36e61b5a03
  • Here’s how to see auroras, from the Great Lakes. Stephanie Vermillion. Nat Geo.  Aug 4, 2020. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/where-to-find-the-aurora-borealis-in-midwest.

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