Lady in Green: The Science Behind The Green Northern Lights

The Lady in Green.

The Lady in Green.

Introduction

John wore a serious expression as he drove through the Arctic landscape. It was the first day of 2023, and he was leading a guided tour with three Italian customers. Departing from Rovaniemi at around half past nine, they headed west, chasing clearer skies, hoping to escape the gray clouds that had gathered.

John was acutely aware of their time constraints. The readings of the solar wind values were promising. It would be only a matter of time before she makes her appearance.

“She?” The Italian man asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Yes, the lady in green,” John replied with a warm smile spreading across his face. “She’s a capricious lady who loves to dance across the Arctic skies. She wears a verdant dress that paints the sky with the most marvelous shades of green. Let’s hope she’s in a good mood tonight.”

A quick glance at his device confirmed the promising data. The solar wind values suggest that she may indeed grace them with her presence tonight.

Solar wind values

• Magnetic field (BZ): -3 nT
• Speed: 499 km/s or 310 miles/s.
• Density: 2 particles per cubic centimeter.

Data acquired from www.jemma.mobi.

First sighting of the northern lights.

First sighting of the northern lights.

First Sighting

John had been driving for about 20 minutes when he caught sight of a faint green glow high in the sky. “Look!” He called out to the Italians in the back seat, pointing upwards. “Things might get exciting soon. Fortunately, we’re not far from a decent roadside spot.”

Intrigued by John’s enthusiasm, the Italian woman asked, “What’s the story behind this ‘Lady Aurora’ that you keep mentioning?” Her face was alight with curiosity.

“Well,” John started, a hint of a grin on his face, as he launched into his tale, “as you might know, the Latin name for the Northern Lights is Aurora Borealis. ‘Aurora’ was the Roman goddess of dawn, while ‘Borealis’ refers to the northern wind. ‘Aurora’ is also a woman’s name. The Northern Lights, much like the goddess they’re named after, are unpredictable, fierce, and stunningly beautiful.” His grin widened as he concluded, “So, yes, it’s definitely a woman who’s behind the Northern Lights.”

A beautiful dance on the first
day of the year 2023.

A beautiful dance on the first day of the year 2023.

She is Here

John steered the car into a parking spot and turned off the engine. They stepped out onto the roadside, and the Northern Lights were now much more visible than they had been from inside the car. John busied himself with his camera, adjusting the settings and taking a few test shots to ensure optimal focus and exposure.

“Stay alert. The show could start at any moment,” John advised with enthusiasm. “Meanwhile, we can take some photos while we wait.”

A young Italian girl turned to John, her curiosity evident in her eyes. “Why do they appear brighter in the photos? They look amazing, but they don’t quite match what I’m seeing.”

“Today’s cameras have fantastic technology that allows us to capture colors far more vividly than what the human eye can perceive,” John explained, his eyes focused on his camera as he continued to take photos of the auroras. “But don’t worry. If the lady is in a good mood, the green will appear much brighter.”

Suddenly, the entire sky seemed to pulse, with the Northern Lights intensifying dramatically. “This is it!” John shouted with glee. “She is here!”

Stunning waves of green Northern Lights danced across the sky. The Italians watched in awe as the spectacle unfolded above them, their eyes wide with wonder as they savored the breathtaking display.

“WOW! This is amazing!” The older woman exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight. “It’s just as magical as I had imagined.”

A mere four minutes later, it was over. The Lady had come, performed her magical dance, and left behind only a faint, ethereal green glow in the sky. The glow itself doesn’t look too impressive, but the pictures reveal the aftermath of the lady’s visit.

Ethereal shapes high above.

Ethereal shapes high above.

Green Northern Lights

The night was still young and John decided to drive the Italians further west for another 30 minutes. The atmosphere within the group was jubilant after witnessing the true beauty of the Northern Lights. Despite the spectacle lasting only four minutes, it was breathtaking, exceeding all expectations. It was a memory they would cherish for the rest of their lives.

“There were only green Northern Lights. Is it common to see only one color?” Asked the Italian man. “And isn’t green the most common color?”

“Indeed, green is the most common color. I would say that about two-thirds of the time, the Northern Lights appear only in green,” John replied with a contented smile. “The green light appears when solar wind particles interact with oxygen molecules located between 100 and 300 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. Green Northern Lights are generally easy to spot due to their sharp edges and slow movement. Green is also my favorite color. It represents life itself and provides a nice contrast to the white winters here at the Arctic Circle.”

John pulled over to the roadside once again as the green lights intensified. He guided the young Italian woman through the deep snow to capture some photos. Despite wearing only his fleece, he didn’t feel too cold. The temperature was an unusually warm -1 degree Celsius for this time of year. In fact, January 2023 turned out to be the warmest January in Finnish Lapland in the last 70 years.

Snowy landscape with northern lights.

Snowy landscape with northern lights.

Heading Back

As midnight approached, the group decided to call it a day. The solar wind values had been quite promising earlier in the night, but the magnetic field (BZ) had shifted to +2, indicating that the night would eventually turn uneventful. It was time to turn the car around and begin the journey back to Rovaniemi.

Soon after hitting the road, all of the tourists drifted off to sleep, which is a common occurrence on these late-night aurora tours. After all, the tours took place at night, and the warmth of the car, combined with their winter clothing, made for a cozy environment.

As John drove back towards Rovaniemi, his thoughts returned to the Lady in Green. There was something mystical about her, about the way she dances across the Arctic skies. She was full of surprises, drawing millions of hopeful spectators, yet only a lucky few ever got to witness her true beauty. He cast one more glance at the sky. Nothing.

“See you tomorrow,” John whispered to the empty sky as he continued to drive.

Conclusion

Green northern lights are the most frequently observed, leading many to associate this color directly with the phenomenon. However, the Northern Lights do come in other colors, which we’ll explore in upcoming stories. I hope you enjoyed this narrative from January 1, 2023, and the legend of dancing Lady in Green. If you’d like to provide feedback or suggest topics for future stories, please subscribe to our newsletter using the link below!

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