The sun's surface temperature is about 6,000 C, much cooler than the inside which is million of degrees F. In the sun's atmosphere the temperature rises again to several million degrees. At such high temperatures, collisions between gas particles can be so bad that atoms disintegrate into electrons and nuclei. What was hydrogen becomes a gas of electrons and protons called plasma. Plasma escapes from the sun's atmosphere through a hole in the sun's magnetic field. When they escape they are thrown out by the rotation of the sun in a spiral called the garden-hose effect. The name comes from the pattern of water droplets formed if you swing a garden hose around and around above your head. .
When the northern lights are seen, it happens in a pattern, this pattern changes a great deal. The outbursts start with a phosphorescent glow over the horizon in the north west. The glow dies down and comes back, then an arch is lit. It drifts over the sky and new arches are lit and follow the first one. Small waves go along the arches. .
Within a few minutes a dramatic change is seen in the sky. Particles hit the upper atmosphere in what is called an auroral storm. Rays of light come down from space, forming a blanket which spreads all over the sky. Violet and red can be seen at the lower and upper ends. The colors are all mixed together. The lights disappear and form all over again by new rays of light coming down from space. There are rays going out in all directions forming what is called an auroral corona. After 10 to 20 minutes the storm is over and the motion decreases. .
The bands of light are spread out all over the sky. There are no individual pockets of light, but the result is bright enough so you can see the details of the countryside. The remains of the northern lights display are faded. Clouds of light are turned on and off about every 5 to10 seconds like an electric light switch. .
When the northern lights break out the solar wind gets stronger and the magnetic tail becomes unstable.
