Low Latitude Northern Lights
Did you see the Northern Lights recently from as low as the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Germany or even France? While we had an incredibly powerful solar flare flying into our atmosphere I was on my way south from the Arctic Circle. Here’s a little glimpse of what I saw whilst sailing across the Skaggerast Strait between Larvik, Norway and Hirtshals, Denmark on board the SuperSpeed 2.
This particular photo, shot on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, shows just how powerful this aurora was because not only is it shot at a low latitude (south of 59˚N) but it’s also shot at sunset. An Aurora sunset is a great example of the power of the northern lights because for the colour in the sky to overpower the setting sun there really has to be a huge amount of energy.
This is going to keep happening
This particular display of the northern lights was caused by a series of solar flares emanating from solar region 3229, peaking at M6.3. The reason these solar flares were so strong hinges around something called the Solar Cycle. This 11-year cycle of activity is nearing its next peak, anticipated to arrive around 2025 with Solar Cycle 25. This is so named quite simply because it’s the 25th solar cycle we humans have observed.
As we approach solar maximum we should expect to see aurora at lower latitudes more commonly. This last spate of activity continued for approximately five nights, albeit above a lot of cloud coverage in many locations including Lofoten and Lapland, unfortunately. We can forecast when the aurora will be visible in more unusual locations and I will announce my forecasts on my social media.
If the northern lights is something you have on your bucket list, now’s the best time to get planning for a trip next winter. My personal recommendations are Lofoten, Norway and Swedish Lapland - specifically the area around Abisko National Park. Abisko is known for its clear sky owing to a meteorological phenomenon whereby there’s almost always a clear sky despite the surrounding area being covered in cloud. Abisko is tricky to get to in winter so the far more accessible location is Lofoten. The Lofoten Archipelago extends into the Atlantic Ocean and intercepts the Gulf Stream, meaning the area is rich with life year-round. The sea doesn’t freeze and fish stocks are plentiful. The Lofoten Islands sit nicely in the middle of the Auroral Oval, meaning every KP level is visible, and the local weather conditions are divided into so many micro-climates that it’s usually possible to find a clear sky if you know where to look.
The other advantage Lofoten has is that its spectacular, rugged mountains are formed from Granite, which is conductive and attracts the solar wind rushing into our atmosphere. The shapes and patterns made here are like nothing I’ve seen anywhere else on earth.
This is Henningsvær, Lofoten. This image shows that the aurora as we approach solar maximum can be extremely strong and can even overpower the ambient light of this town. For a more detailed explanation of how to find the northern lights yourself please check out this video:
And now you know a little about why the aurora is so strong, keep your eyes on the skies!
Much love
Dave