How the Northern Lights shined in the Ozarks

WEBSTER COUNTY, Mo.-The northern lights have made their way back down into the Ozarks, with Thursday being the peak of this showing.

“What it really is, is those charged particles, when they come down the magnetic field lines, they hit the atmosphere, and that center leads the atmosphere and makes it glow. So that’s really what we’re seeing,” Dr. Mike Reed said.

Aurora Borealis has crept its way back into the Ozarks this week, making its way as far south as Arkansas. Dr. Reed is a professor of astrophysics at Missouri State University. He says sightings like this don’t happen often in the Ozarks.

“Very rare. So, we had one this summer, and the one before that that I can remember was 20 years previous to that,” Reed said.

The sun’s magnetic field goes through a cycle every 11 years, Reed explained, outputting loops of charged particles into the atmosphere.

“When the earth runs through them, those charged particles intercept the earth and most of the earth, because our magnetic field goes from pole to pole, most of the earth doesn’t see them,” Reed said. “The charged particles tend to go down the magnetic field pole lines. And that’s why the aurora borealis are mostly, you know, in the north. And the stronger the storm then the farther south they might spread.”

The current storm is rated as a severe G4, which could cause issues such as power outages.

“So it’s possible. it’s not a worry for us tonight,” Reed said. “We actually have three satellites orbiting the sun, watching the sun for space weather just for those sorts of events so that if a strong storm is coming, the people know ahead of time.”

Those looking for a glimpse of the lights will need to head out of town and away from any light.

“So the darker the location, the better it will be. Away from streetlights, away from city lights, because it’s a very faint occurrence,” Reed said.

Dr. Reed says the sun is on the end of this 11-year cycle so it is possible we could see the northern lights again soon. If not, we may have to wait another 11 or so years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.