Die Sonnenaktivität erreicht ihr Maximum ungefähr alle elf Jahre, oftmals als Solar Max bezeichnet. In dieser Zeit ist die Zahl der Sonnenflecken und KMAs besonders hoch, wodurch sich viele Polarlichter ergeben. Auf dem halben Weg des Sonnenzyklus wird das Solar Min, das Minimum erreicht. Rund ums Minimum enstehen Polarlichter meist nur durch den Sonnenwind koronaler Löcher. Kp-Werte sind in dieser Zeit oft niedrig. Stellt euch euren eigenen 24-Stunden Tag vor. Es gibt eine Zeit in der ihr wach (aktiv) seid und viel Energie verbraucht. Beim Schlafen hingegen ist der Verbrauch gering.

an oval-shaped area around the magnetic poles, in which auroras might be visible. Imagine you open the tap on your sink to wash your hands. In the sink, the water usually goes around in a circle before leaving through the drain. Depending how strong and how much water comes out of the tap, that circle changes its shape and size. Something similar happens with the aurora oval. Depending on the amount and speed of particles, the oval changes shape and strength. NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has developed a model for the short-term forecast (30 minutes). Colors in the model show the probabilities to see auroras. Of course, it is not a viewing guarantee. Bright green is for about 30-50% and orange-red for over 80% probability. Here is the direct link for both, the Northern and Southern hemisphere .

A hole in the outer magnetic field (called corona) around the sun. Through it streams solar wind steadily out until the hole closes again. This can last for days or even weeks. Instead of a bursting air bubble, imagine a windy day and someone opens a window. Through it comes a strong, steady breeze until the window is closed.

Occurs when Earth’s magnetic field is hit by a strong CME or a high-speed solar wind. A strong storm usually triggers bright aurora displays which can last multiple nights. There are five classes of geomagnetic storms from G1 (weakest) to G5.

indicates the strength of geomagnetic activity. It is numbered from one to nine, with nine being the strongest. A G1 geomagnetic storm has a Kp of 5, a G5 storm a Kp of 9. This number tells us also where auroras can possibly be seen. NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has created maps with colored lines for Kp=3, 5, 7 and 9 in it. In that way you can check your location and Kp-value is needed for auroras possibly to appear there. Here are the links for the Kp-index map for Europe and Asia and the Kp-index map for North America .

A graph showing the real-time situation of Earth’s magnetic field. This can be compared to a seismometer for earthquakes. Horizontal flat lines indicate the field is intact while vertical outbreaks are signs for interruptions. Strong vertical outbreaks often tell us that solar wind has arrived and auroras could be seen. As an example, here the link to the magnetogram from Sodankylä, Finland .

Our sun’s activity is on a maximum once every 11 years or so, often called the Solar Max. During that time the number of sunspots and CME’s are usually high, creating a lot of auroras. Halfway through that cycle there will be solar min, when most aurora action results from coronal holes. During that time the kp-values are commonly low. Imagine your own energy level during 24 hours. You may get up in the morning and at some point in the day you are most active. Later, while sleeping, your activity level will tend to be at a minimum.

FAQs Archive - Page 4 of 5

Sonnenzyklus

admin2017-06-29T23:38:23+00:00June 29th, 2017|Categories: Polarlichtbegriffe|

Die Sonnenaktivität erreicht ihr Maximum ungefähr alle elf Jahre, oftmals als Solar Max bezeichnet. In [...]

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Aurora borealis, Northern lights

admin2017-06-29T23:33:43+00:00June 28th, 2017|Categories: Aurora terms|

A display of light in the night sky of the Northern hemisphere. It is caused [...]

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Auroral oval

admin2017-06-29T23:25:13+00:00June 28th, 2017|Categories: Aurora terms|

an oval-shaped area around the magnetic poles, in which auroras might be visible. Imagine you [...]

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CME (coronal mass ejection)

admin2017-06-29T23:13:45+00:00June 28th, 2017|Categories: Aurora terms|

A sudden burst of gas of an unstable magnetic field on the suns surface. Often [...]

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Coronal hole

admin2017-06-29T23:02:17+00:00June 28th, 2017|Categories: Aurora terms|

A hole in the outer magnetic field (called corona) around the sun. Through it streams [...]

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Geomagnetic storm

admin2017-06-29T22:50:08+00:00June 28th, 2017|Categories: Aurora terms|

Occurs when Earth’s magnetic field is hit by a strong CME or a high-speed solar [...]

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Kp-Index

admin2017-06-28T13:55:19+00:00June 28th, 2017|Categories: Aurora terms|

indicates the strength of geomagnetic activity. It is numbered from one to nine, with nine [...]

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Magnetogram

admin2017-06-28T13:54:53+00:00June 28th, 2017|Categories: Aurora terms|

A graph showing the real-time situation of Earth’s magnetic field. This can be compared to [...]

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Solar cycle

admin2017-06-28T13:54:04+00:00June 28th, 2017|Categories: Aurora terms|

Our sun’s activity is on a maximum once every 11 years or so, often called [...]

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Solar wind

admin2025-10-02T16:08:41+00:00June 28th, 2017|Categories: Aurora terms|

a stream of charged particles leaving the sun. If Earth-directed it might trigger aurorae.

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