Space weather-caused by geoeffective solar activity such as solar flares-can impact the space between here and the sun, causing an aurora as a byproduct. The Northern Lights evolve from the sun’s activity that affect the conditions in space. Monitoring Space Weather to Predict AurorasĪuroras exist in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but the northern counterpart is far more popular for tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the display.

Thanks to the Northern Lights, the country saw a 27.5% increase in tourism spending last year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.īut for those of us who aren’t lucky enough to view the Northern Lights from our living rooms, like those in Iceland or the Canadian Yukon, how do we know when is a good time to book our plane tickets and bundle up for a trip to see this spectacle? Thankfully, science has the answer. In fact, 2016 was an outstanding year for Iceland’s tourism industry. There’s no doubt that the stunning light shows, known scientifically as the Aurora Borealis, are not only an item on many people’s bucket lists, but also a boom to the local economies lucky enough to have a front row seat for the show. From September until April, when the days are at their shortest and often their darkest, the Northern Lights are at their brightest.

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