What Causes The Northern Lights - We prove the cause and effect
What Causes the Northern Lights?
What causes the Northern Lights? Most websites repeat the same scientific explanation — but here you will find something new. We not only describe the physics behind auroras; we also show the first real-time Cause → Effect model that visually proves how a solar eruption turns into Northern Lights above Iceland.
Using two live data sources — solar wind measurements and Earth’s geomagnetic response — our system draws a unique Cause & Effect Line that updates every few minutes. It allows you to see the chain reaction from the Sun to the sky, in a way no other forecast website currently offers.
This is new knowledge, built from our own API connections, and part of Airmango’s Aurora AI research project.
New Knowledge: Visual Proof of Solar Cause → Aurora Effect
For the first time, we show a live, scientific “cause-and-effect” timeline that connects:
- Solar Eruption (CME or Solar Wind Spike) →
- Travel Time Across 150 Million km →
- Arrival at Earth’s Magnetosphere →
- Geomagnetic Disturbance (Kp / Bt / Bz response) →
- Aurora Visibility in Iceland
This timeline is generated using our own data pipeline:
1. API 1: Real-time solar wind & CME data (NASA/NOAA DSCOVR & ACE satellites)
2. API 2: Geomagnetic response data (magnetometer readings + K-index updates)
These two APIs combined create new knowledge: A direct, real-time visual demonstration of cause → effect that is not available on any other Northern Lights website.
How Our Model Works (Simple Explanation)
We convert raw data into a human-friendly timeline:
- When a CME leaves the Sun, our system calculates its estimated speed.
- As it travels toward Earth, the time-to-arrival is updated.
- When it hits the magnetosphere, we detect the jump in Bt/Bz.
- The system then shows how this results in aurora probability in Iceland.
Scroll down to see our real-time Cause → Effect Line and understand — visually — how the Northern Lights are created.
🛰️ CME Tracker – Visualizing the Cause
🚀 Active Solar Storm Journeys:
🛰️ En Route Details
Awaiting next solar event…
📜 Recent CME Log
(Launched: May 16, 16:36)
⚡ Live Visualization: This tracker shows Coronal Mass Ejection journeys in real-time, updated every 30 minutes.
Data: NASA DONKI • NOAA SWPC
Updated: May 20, 2026, 4:30 AM
The Science Behind the Northern Lights (Explained Simply)
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are one of the most stunning natural phenomena on Earth. But they aren’t a weather event—they are a space weather event.
Step 1: The Sun Releases Charged Particles
It all starts with the Sun. The Sun is constantly releasing a stream of tiny, electrically charged particles from its surface. This stream is called the solar wind. Sometimes, the Sun has larger “explosions,” like solar flares or Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
Step 2: The Solar Wind Travels Toward Earth
These solar wind particles travel through space at incredible speeds, often over a million miles per hour (1.6 million km/h). It typically takes this “wind” about 1 to 3 days to cross the 93 million miles (150 million km) to reach Earth.
Step 3: Earth’s Magnetic Shield Is Hit
If this solar wind hit Earth directly, it would be harmful. Luckily, our planet has a protective, invisible “force field” called the magnetosphere. This field deflects most of the solar wind safely around us, but acts like a funnel at the North and South Poles.
Step 4: The Atmosphere Lights Up
As the high-energy solar particles are funneled down, they slam into Earth’s upper atmosphere. When they collide with gas atoms (mostly oxygen and nitrogen), they transfer energy, causing the atoms to release light.
Why Auroras Have Different Colours
Oxygen (Green & Red Aurora) Explained
Green is the most common color, caused by particles hitting oxygen atoms at lower altitudes (60-150 miles). Red is rarer and happens when oxygen is hit at very high altitudes (above 150 miles).
Nitrogen (Pink & Purple Aurora) Explained
Blue, pink, or purple colors are usually caused by particles hitting nitrogen atoms.
FAQ: New Knowledge Aurora Insights
Q: What makes your aurora explanation different from other websites?
Because we use a real-time Cause → Effect Line that links solar eruptions to visible auroras. This data is produced through our own API pipeline and does not exist anywhere else online.
Q: How does your system prove the link between the Sun and auroras?
We combine raw solar wind measurements with Earth’s geomagnetic response. When a CME hits Earth, our visual line shows the immediate reaction in the atmosphere.
Q: Is this information available on standard aurora forecast websites?
No. Traditional sites show forecasts or indexes, but none provide a continuous real-time chain from solar eruption → magnetosphere disturbance → aurora visibility in Iceland.
Q: Are you creating new scientific data?
No — we are creating new knowledge, not new raw data. Our system transforms existing API data into a unique visual model and simplified explanation.
Research & Methodology
Our Cause → Effect Aurora Model is built from two live scientific data streams:
- Solar Wind & CME Data: From NOAA/NASA DSCOVR & ACE satellites.
- Geomagnetic Response Data: Real-time magnetometer readings and K-index disturbances.
By combining these, we create a visual timeline that shows the step-by-step reaction from Sun → Earth → Auroras in Iceland. This is original interpretation representing new knowledge created by Airmango’s Aurora AI project.
What are the Northern Lights?
For many years, people in the polar regions have been mystified by the dancing of bright lights in the darker months. This wonder continues today. But what are the northern lights, and why do they happen?
What are the northern lights?
Long story short, the northern lights are the visual byproduct of intense space weather. They are a natural phenomenon related to a multi-step process, similar in a way to lightning, rainbows, or even colorful sunsets.
The things that cause them are primarily unseen, and occupy the space around us in our atmosphere. These are things like atmospheric gases, high powered electrons, and our geomagnetic field.
The true wonder of all of this is that sometimes all of these things align into a moment of interaction- and when we are lucky, we can see the magic of auroras.
It all starts here on Earth
Earth is a special planet. It is one of the few places that we know of that can support human life. One of the many reasons that this is possible, is because we are protected from harsh space weather by our geomagnetic field. Many other planets also have a magnetic field, but ours is one of the strongest.
The core of the Earth is filled with layers of partially molten iron under great gravitational pressure. This area of iron is huge, and because of the different temperatures, there is a fair amount of movement occurring here.
The hottest material rises, causing swirling convection currents inside the Earth. You can see a current like this in a pot of boiling water. The way that those bubbles spiral up to the surface, is a lot like what is happening inside the Earth. The movement of all of this metal makes electrical currents that rise up through the Earth’s surface, and create magnetic fields.
However, that isn’t the end of it! The Earth is also spinning, which causes additional movement in an effect called ‘the Coriolis Force’. This force combines all of those magnetic fields into one larger magnetic field, which protects all of us from radiation and solar wind, and forms the magnetosphere.
Because we can’t see the magnetic field, we normally represent it by drawing lines. These lines go into and out of the Earth, meeting at the poles, making the Earth look like an exceptionally round butterfly.
From the sun, with love
So we know about Earth and its magnetic field. But where does the actual aurora come from? While the Earth is creating convection currents, a similar thing is happening in the Sun, a star that is nearly 15 million degrees Celsius at its core.
As the pressure and movement within the sun push outwards, magnetic fields form here as well. The stronger ones are able to push through to the surface, slowing as they cool, and creating sunspots. We pay attention to these dark spots on the Sun, and often predict large auroral activity by their reappearance.
But back to the action! The electrically charged gas (or plasma) that exits the sun contains the magnetic fields that were just created. When this massive “ball” of plasma breaks away from the surface, it is ejected out into space as a “solar storm”. (Smaller versions of this kind of expulsion happen frequently, and are often referred to as solar wind.)
Depending on the strength of the solar storm and the obstacles that it meets along its way, its speed and travel time can vary. That is why auroral forecasts are not always perfectly timed, it can be challenging for us to measure these factors.
The lucky collision
If everything lines up and the sun sends a solar storm in our direction, it will first have to pass over Mercury and Venus, before it gets to us. But when it does finally arrive, a strange sort of collision occurs between us and the solar storm.
The magnetic field inside the solar storm clashes with our magnetic field, and combines. Once they are connected, the charged gases travel down the imaginary lines of the connected magnetic field, traveling to the poles that attract it.
As the storm passes over us, these imaginary lines go with it, eventually breaking and reconnecting on the other side. This breakage creates another opportunity for gas to travel down to the poles, as the storm moves away.
An aurora is made
The gases carried within the solar storm have arrived, and are traveling down to the places on our planet where the magnetic force is the strongest, the poles. But how does all of this make an aurora?
The gas that is now in our atmosphere contains supercharged protons and electrons, or ions. This energy becomes trapped in our ionosphere, around the north and south pole in a shape we call the auroral oval.
When this happens, they will eventually collide with pockets of oxygen and nitrogen in our atmosphere- which is the big moment that we are waiting for.
At the moment of this crash between ions and gases, energy is released that creates a glow, or an effect of visible light. You’ve seen many interactions like this here on Earth, like the interaction that creates neon light in signs.
This is an exciting moment, and a reminder of how small we are in the scale of the universe. But it is also only the beginning of the aurora’s visual journey to us, once it arrives. Because next, we have to learn about all of the Earth factors that have to line up and cooperate, for us to even begin to be able to witness this incredible natural phenomenon with our own eyes.
Northern Lights Forecast for Iceland
Will there be northern lights tonight?
We analyse your chances of seeing the Aurora at your current location.
Will there be Northern Lights tonight at your location?
Take a quick photo of your sky — our AI will analyze it and tell you your real chances of seeing the aurora right now. Every photo helps improve our AI forecasting model so people everywhere can find the lights more easily.
Take a quick photo of your sky — our AI will analyze it and tell you your real chances of seeing the aurora right now. Every photo helps improve our AI forecasting model so people everywhere can find the lights more easily.
By uploading, you agree that your photo and its metadata may be stored and used to help train the Aurora AI model. Read Privacy Policy
More on Northern Lights Forecast
The Northern Lights season runs from 1st September, through winter, until 15th April, typically.
To see the Northern Lights with your naked eye, you need:
- Darkness (winter only)
- Clear skies (no clouds)
- Aurora activity (Northern Lights)
Todays Cloud Coverage and Satellite Images of the Aurora
Here’s How To Read The Map
The map is updated daily and gives you an indication of Northern Lights viewing. It’s a little confusing as the green colour is very similar to the colour of the actual Northern Lights but in fact the map shows green as cloud coverage and white as clear skies. The white areas are where you need to head for.
On the map you can see areas of white, light green and dark green. The white colour in the forecast means no clouds, so clear sky. This is ideal as you need to have a clear sky to see the Northern Lights. The light green means partly cloudy and dark green means very cloudy so a low chance for sightings as the visibility is low.
Basically if you can see the stars, then you have a chance of seeing the lights.
Why Does Cloud Coverage Matter?
The reason why we want to have the areas without clouds (or light clouds) is because it is impossible to see the lights when the sky is covered with clouds. When it is partly cloudy (light green areas) you still have a chance seeing the lights by finding a gap in the clouds.
How Often is the Map Updated?
The forecast is updated around 6pm daily so it’s best to keep a close eye on the forecast before heading out on your hunt.
For more information on viewing the Northern Lights in winter time, please read this article.
How are the Lights Monitored and Expressed?
Satellites are the main tool for observing and monitoring the sun and particle fluxes heading for Earth. Without these it would be difficult to create a reliable Northern Lights forecast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin of the USA (NOAA) operates a couple of these, both covering the rear and the front of the Sun. The satellites both generate images and have sensors for observing particle fluxes from the sun. By using these observations we are able to create a Northern Lights forecasts based on numerical simulations and forecast models.
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The New Year in Iceland seen from a Wi-Fi quadricopter
The New Year in Iceland
Bird-eye view from a Wi-Fi quadricopter
Great video from Andres Sighvatsson living in Iceland
Expert on the northern lights in Iceland
Expert on the northern lights in Iceland
- Expert knowledge of the northern lights
- Years of experience: 15 years
Robert S. Robertsson is our expert for the northern lights in Iceland. He is the owner of this northern lights website and has written most of the northern lights articles on the site. He is born in the southern part of Iceland and has lived in Iceland for over 27 years - and knows about all the local gems and has first hand experience of most of the tours and activities available.
He can help you with booking the right tour, finding the right hotel and simply give you answers on where it is best to see it and e.g. when in the year and all the questions that come up when planning at trip to Iceland to see them.
How can he help?
He can help you with booking activities in his area of expertise - anything in relation to northern lights viewing and planing your trip to Iceland. This can be e.g. when best to see the lights, where to stay, which tours to do and so forth. His local advises are free of charge for the traveler.
Send a message to Robert here
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Northern lights photography expert
Northern lights photography expert
- Expertise: northern lights photography
- Years of experience: 15 years
Sigurður Jónsson is our expert for the northern lights photography in Iceland. He has been doing aurora shooting for long time and has both experience of the still images and video. He did his undergraduate study in USA and has been working as photographer in Iceland for over 20 years now. He should be able to help you in this regard and also help you find the right tour and hotels for this type of travel services.
How can he help?
He can help you with booking activities in his area of expertise - anything in relation to northern lights photography and related things. This could be where best locations are for shooting northern lights photos, when best to do it, what type of cameras and so forth. His local advises are free of charge for the traveler.
Send a message to Sigurður here
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Expert on the East fjords in Iceland
Expert on the East fjords in Iceland
- Expertise: Eastfjords in Iceland
- Years of experience: 23 years
Sigríður Jóna is our expert on the Eastfjords in Iceland. A area with amazing nature and has many gems of natural wonder. She is located in the area and runs her own travel agency, so she knows the area very well and can help you with various subjects related to the Eastfjords in Iceland.
How can she help?
She can help you with booking activities in her area of expertise - the Eastfjords in Icealnd. This could be where it is best to stay, when to go there or if it is safe to travel by rental car in the winter time. Her local advises are free of charge for the traveler.
Send a message to Sigríður here
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Expert on Reykjavik
Expert on Reykjavik in Iceland
- Expertise: Reykjavik in Iceland
- Years of experience: 27 years
Hilmar Jónsson is our travel expert on the Reykjavik area in Iceland. The capital of Iceland. He is located in the area and runs his own travel agency, so he knows Reykjavik very well and can help you with questions in regard to the nightlife, hotels to stay at and much more.
How can she help?
He can help you with booking activities in her area of expertise - Reykjavik in Iceland. This could be where it is best to stay, where to go for the nightlife or what restaurants are best. He runs his own travel agency and might help by suggesting trips they are doing but only if it fits the need of the traveler. His local advises are free of charge for the traveler.
Send a message to Hilmar here
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Thrifty.is - compact car rental in Iceland
Thrifty.is - compact rental cars in Iceland |
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Eent a car from Thrifty at four rental locations: Reykjavik, Keflavik airport, Akureyri Down Town and Akureyri airport. Rates at Thrifty are all inclusive with no hidden charges at all. The rates include CDW insurance with self-risk, unlimited mileage, vehicle theft protection and all taxes. Thrifty is certified by ISO 9001 and offers free bus service and we do everything we can help you easily change or even cancel your booking when you need to do so - with no questions asked.
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Seljalandsfoss, Skogarfoss & Glacier
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Seljalandsfoss, Skogarfoss & Glacier
Great tour to Seljalandsfoss, Skogarfoss and a glacier in South Iceland with Arctic Adventures
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On this beautiful winter hike tour with Arctic Adventures you will be picked up in Reykjavik on one of our modified super jeeps. We will then drive Hellisheidi Mountain and go for the 1000 rivers moutain road where we will cross the river many times before going down to the low lands on Iceland´s south coast. In the south we begin by stopping at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland´s most beautiful waterfalls, which we can walk behind the veil of water. After this we will visit Solheimajokull Glacier. At the glacier we will put on spikes for the soles of our shoes and other needed gear. With a expert glacier guide we will hike around on foot. Close by is the infamous Eyjafjallajökull volcano. After the hike we will eat a packed lunch out in the nature. Then we will follow a river down to the black and beaches. On our super jeep we will drive on the sand with the relentless surf of the North Atlantic Ocean on our left side. We will then enter the road again close to the famous Skógarfoss waterfall. We will then drive back to Reykjavik and be there around 18:00 |
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What is great with this tour?
The southern part of Iceland is one of the most amazing part of Iceland. You will be able to combine seeing some of its greatest diamonds like Seljalandsfoss and black sand beaches, with being out in its harsh nature - a glacier hiking. This means you are not only sitting in a car all the time and watching you get in a better touch with the Icelandic nature than the normal tourist tours.
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Elves in Iceland
Elves in Iceland
What is it all about?
Artist and Seer Ragnhildur Jonsdottir has communicated whith the Elves in Iceland since her early age. Ragnhildur will tell you about the huldufolk, elves and other magical beings in Iceland, their dwellings and their desire to live peacefully with the human beings. The 45-55 minute walk through the amazing Hellisgerði Lava Park in the friendly harbor town of Hafnarfjordur, 17 minutes away from central Reykjavik, will help us understanding the invisible world of "huldufolk". You can ask her about all the things you have ever wondered about the Elves. When the walk is done you can visit the small Elfgarden cafe to continue the talk, enjoy the art inspired by the "huldufolk" and get some coffee or tea.!
This mini-tour is suitable for everyone!
Price is ISK 4000 per person (includes coffee and the book „How you can see an elf“)
Coffee on the Arctic Circle
Coffee on the Arctic Circle
What is it about?
In Iceland coffee is an institution. With around 8.7 kilos of beans every year, this small island in the north drinks more coffee per capita than France and the UK combined. Why?
I will take you for a tour around the small cafes in Reykjavik where we will try out and see the art of Icelandic coffee brewing. A great way to spend your time while you wait for the northern lights to show up. Competition is very harsh and many high quality venues to discover, the only question is, how many cups of coffee can you take?
This activity is suitable for everyone, including beginners having no coffee drinking experience at all!
The cost is ISK 6000.
Going to Iceland
Northern light in Iceland. Shot on various locations - beautiful scenery and amazing work done. Takes a lot of patience to shoot this.
See them in Reykjavik, Iceland
See northern lights in Reykjavik, Iceland. Time-lapse shot made during a night in winter wonderland Iceland.
See the northern lights tonight !
See the northern lights tonight at Grundarfjordur, Iceland. Short but beautiful shot of the northern lights in Iceland.
Breathtaking show of borealis and beautiful scenery in Iceland
Breathtaking show of borealis and beautiful scenery in Iceland. Amazing photographs in this video. Not only northern lights but also more nature scenery from Iceland.
Auroras Borealis in Iceland
Beautiful Auroras Borealis shots in Iceland. Shot close to Hotel Ranga, near Hella in south Iceland.
Northern lights in iceland
Northern lights in Iceland, WestfjordsEnjoy a wide range of outdoor activities while you wait for the northern lights in Iceland in a stunning setting in the Westfjords, with Icelandic Farm Holidays. |
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This fantastic 5-day tour with Icelandic Farm Holidays is for travellers who want to escape from a busy city life to relax and enjoy nature at its best. The tour is based at Heydalur, a country hotel in a beautiful valley inside Mjóifjörður fjord in northwest Iceland. The tour includes return transfer from Reykjavik to Heydalur, 4 night‘s accommodation at Heydalur, a guided fishing tour by snowmobile or jeep, an excursion around the beautiful Heydalur Valley and a choice between an excursion to Ísafjörður town or activities such as kayaking and horse riding. In the evenings you can enjoy freshly prepared local food in the converted barn and afterwards bathe in a natural hot spring pool and wait for the magical northern lights to appear. View more information about Heydalur including photos and video here
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What is unique about this tour?Because of the impossibility to know exactly when the northern lights in Iceland will show up, it is a good idea to plan your trip to a place where many other activities are on offer. At Heydalur there is so much you can do and the remote location far up north maximises your chances of seeing the northern lights. The Westfjords are the most rugged part of Iceland, offering breathtaking scenery including steep fjords, mountains, bird cliffs, waterfalls, beaches and natural hot springs perfect for bathing.
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What to see on the south coast?
What to see on the south coast?
Seljalandsfoss
Skógafoss
Reynisfjara beach
Kirkjubæjarkaustur
Skógar museum
Dyrhólaey
Jökulsárlón
The amazing aurora in Iceland
The amazing aurora in Iceland
What are the Northern Lights?
“Aurora borealis” is another name for the Northern Lights. Aurora is Latin for the Roman goddess of sunrise, Dawn. In the high northern latitudes, the Aurora is a stunning display of curtains of colored lights in the sky, chiefly visible at the beginning and end of winter. When to Look for Northern Lights in Iceland
Northern lights in Iceland are visible for nearly 8 months in a year. This gives tourists a long window to marvel at the marvelous sight without having to travel to Alaska or northern Scandinavia. You don´t have to drive far from the capital to see them either. If it is too bothersome to leave the comforts of Reykjavik, you can see these beautiful lights from downtown. From the city center, the aurora may not so bright but still a marvelous natural phenomenon. Each night, there is a Northern lights forecast, which you can take note of to maximize your viewing pleasure. Where to Find the Northern lights in Iceland
Plan Your Own Northern Lights Hunting Trip
Rescue work in north Iceland
13. Sept. 2012 - Farmers in northern Iceland did not expect a snowstorm end-of-summer
See a whale breaching in Iceland
See a whale breaching in IcelandIt is unique experience to watch these lovely animal breach in the ocean |
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This idea is not only for animal lovers, it is for anyone visiting Iceland. Whales are such a wonderful creatures and you need to see it breach in the ocean at least once in your lifetime. The video is shot close to Reykjavik on a Android phone by the author of this Pinterest account. See the itinerary below how to get to our preferred whale watching tour company - Specialtours
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The itinerary |
