Uploaded September 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago

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Aurora Case Studies. October 2003's major geomagnetic storms. 2019's Coronal Holes that produced very predictable and wonderful lights around the world in the Summer and early Autumn. This is the latest installment in the Aurora Forecasting Series! Prior to this I discussed terminology, why, where and when to catch Northern Lights (or Southern Lights). The satellites the collect data for us to watch and analyze, and finally where to get data.


In this episode I take a deep dive into the parameters that we can watch to know when and where to look for northern lights, but based on 2 real-world examples from the most common sources that produce aurora, Coronal Holes, and Coronal Mass Ejections (Or CMEs). I explain the Solar Flare X-Ray scale and how to know when a solar flare is producing, or has produced a CME.


CME's can lead to major geomagnetic storms that can bright northern lights deep into lower latitudes like Florida or Spain, New Zealand and Australia. While Coronal holes are common and predictable, and can bring northern lights down the United States' northern border or deep into Scandanavia.
#spaceweather
#auroraborealis
#geomagneticstorms

Northern Lights
Southern Lights
Aurora Borealis
Aurora Australia
Geomagnetic storms
The Halloween Storm of 2003