Rare Blue Auroras Over Japan Spark New Atmospheric Insights
In May 2024, an unusual blue aurora appeared over Japan, challenging existing theories of auroral formation. Unlike typical green or red auroras, these blue auroras occurred at altitudes between 400 and 900 km, much higher than usual. Researchers suggest nitrogen molecular ions may be responsible, indicating a potential new atmospheric process. This phenomenon, which does not align with traditional auroral models, raises questions about unidentified mechanisms in Earth's upper atmosphere.
