What is the phenomenon called that is formed in the ionosphere and related to solar wind?

What is the phenomenon called that is formed in the ionosphere and related to solar wind?

• A. Aurora Borealis
• B. Sunspot
• C. Comet tail
• D. Northern storm

Answer: (A)

Auroras are the glowing lights formed in the upper atmosphere when charged particles from the solar wind collide with atmospheric gases near the poles. These particles are steered by Earth’s magnetic field into the ionosphere, where they excite atoms like oxygen and nitrogen. When these excited atoms return to lower energy states, they emit photons, producing the visible light. The color depends on the gas and altitude—green from oxygen around 100–250 km, red from higher-altitude oxygen, and blue/purple from nitrogen. This phenomenon is called the aurora, with the northern version known as the aurora borealis (and the southern version as the aurora australis). Other options don’t describe this ionospheric light show: sunspots are features on the Sun’s surface, comet tails form from solar wind acting on a comet, and “Northern storm” isn’t a standard term for this phenomenon.

Auroras are the glowing lights formed in the upper atmosphere when charged particles from the solar wind collide with atmospheric gases near the poles. These particles are steered by Earth’s magnetic field into the ionosphere, where they excite atoms like oxygen and nitrogen. When these excited atoms return to lower energy states, they emit photons, producing the visible light. The color depends on the gas and altitude—green from oxygen around 100–250 km, red from higher-altitude oxygen, and blue/purple from nitrogen. This phenomenon is called the aurora, with the northern version known as the aurora borealis (and the southern version as the aurora australis). Other options don’t describe this ionospheric light show: sunspots are features on the Sun’s surface, comet tails form from solar wind acting on a comet, and “Northern storm” isn’t a standard term for this phenomenon.