Animation: Why the northern and southern lights are different

For many years, scientists assumed the aurora seen around the north pole was identical to the aurora seen around the south pole. The poles are connected by magnetic field lines and auroral displays are caused by charged particles streaming along these field lines. Because the charged particles follow these field lines, it would make sense that the auroras would be mirror images of each other.
However, in 2009, scientists discovered aurora can look differently around the north pole and the south pole, including having different shapes and occurring at different locations - a phenomenon called asymmetry.
This animation from the Birkeland Center for Space Science provides an introduction to asymmetry.
Credit: Birkeland Center for Space Science/Mount Visual
Read more about this research here:
news.agu.org/press-release/ne...
Read the original research study here:
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.c...

[@MrHerodoto]

Very interesting simulation and explanation. Thank you for that.

[@baisakhibhattacharyabb484]

Is it just me or the explanation is a bit difficult to understand?

[@kingofrexdale8598]

Love this woman’s voice

[@lillyraj18]

Interesting 👍🏻 thanks for explaining 🙏🏻

[@julientousignant3353]

Wow simple !

[@decrodedart2688]

Beautiful visualisation

[@tristezzalamentoluciano265]

I didn't realize that there was any apparent difference between Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis. I thought they look the same.

[@seema19621]

Very well explained

[@abcdef2069]

at

[@gato-grande]

CHILE ARGENTINA AURORA AUSTRAL

[@nojamz200]

wow