Sun-Earth Connection

Andy Breen

When I was young, I saw the northern lights which are one of the most beautiful (and strange!) things I've ever seen. I wanted to find out more about them, and now I measure the solar wind speed in the Arctic!

What's the connection?

Well, the Sun's wind can cause very fast particles to enter the Earth's atmosphere, making it glow in many different colours, and these are the northern lights.

By making measurements of the solar wind, I can predict when we will see the northern lights, but I need to travel to the Arctic to do this!

What exactly are the northern lights?

How does the solar wind cause them?

What do I do?

Life in the Arctic

Biography