Ask the meteorologist: What exactly is the northern lights effect?

What exactly is the northern lights effect? I have always wanted to know. — Caleb Wilson

Answer: The "Northern Lights" is a common term for the phenomenon called the Aurora Borealis.

Aurora occur when charged particles, especially electrons, emitted by the sun become trapped in Earth's magnetic field and are channeled at great speeds into the atmosphere at higher latitudes. When these particles collide with gas molecules in the atmosphere, they transfer energy to the gas molecules, and then some of that energy is released by those molecules in the form of light.

These glowing gases may extend as close as 50 miles or so above the earth's surface or as high as 200 to 300 miles. Most of the time, aurora can not be seen from North Carolina, but on occasion especially strong geomagnetic storms cause the auroral oval to be pushed to lower latitudes, and the lights become visible in our northern skies.

NOAA offers an aurora forecast that predicts location and intensity of aurora on Earth and includes tips for viewing aurora.