“Surfing” Particles on Alfvén Waves: Physicists Solve a Mystery Surrounding Aurora Borealis

What Causes The Northern Lights? Scientists Finally Know For Sure. The natural light show starts when disturbances on the sun pull on Earth's magnetic field. That creates cosmic undulations known as Alfvén waves that launch high-speed electrons into Earth's atmosphere where they create the aurora.

Earth's aurora origin mystery solved by 'surfing' electrons

'Surfing' particles: Physicists solve a mystery surrounding aurora borealis