Aurora and the sea

The photo shows an aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, over the sea. The aurora is a natural light display in the sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions. It is caused by the collision of energetically charged particles with atoms in the high-altitude atmosphere (thermosphere). These charged particles originate from the magnetosphere, a region of space surrounding the Earth. When the particles enter the atmosphere, they collide with gas particles, causing the ionization or excitation of these particles. The ionized particles return to their ground state, releasing energy in the form of photons. This process gives rise to the emission of light of various colors and shapes in the sky, creating an awe-inspiring natural phenomenon.