An aurora is produced when
A) charged particles flow toward the magnetic poles and excite atmospheric gases.
B) swamp gases rise from the Arctic tundra and react with the upper atmosphere.
C) radiation in the Van Allen belts can be seen on a clear,cold night.
D) lightning travels from cloud to cloud rather than cloud to ground.

Question

An aurora is produced when 
A) charged particles flow toward the magnetic poles and excite atmospheric gases. 
B) swamp gases rise from the Arctic tundra and react with the upper atmosphere. 
C) radiation in the Van Allen belts can be seen on a clear,cold night. 
D) lightning travels from cloud to cloud rather than cloud to ground.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An aurora is produced by charged particles from the sun, also known as solar wind, being drawn toward the Earth's magnetic poles. These charged particles interact with atmospheric gases, causing them to glow and create the colorful display known as the aurora borealis (northern lights) and aurora australis (southern lights).

An Aurora Is Produced When