What Causes the Aurora Borealis and the Aurora Australis?
The auroras, both surrounding the north magnetic pole ~ Aurora Borealis ~ and south magnetic pole ~ Aurora Australis ~ happen when highly charged electrons from the solar wind interact with elements in the earth’s atmosphere. Streaming Winds. Solar winds stream away from the sun at speeds of about 1 million miles per hour. When they reach the earth, roughly 40 hours after leaving the sun, they follow the lines of magnetic force generated by the earth’s core.
