What is a Solar Wind

Charged particles are constantly being given off by the sun. they are known as the solar wind and are strongest when the sunspot activity is at its height. When the solar wind reaches the earth's magnetic field, the charged particles interact with gases in the earth's atmosphere 10km or 6miles above the surface. the interaction causes the particles to send out light, which is seen from earth as an amazing light show, best visible from within the arctic and antarctic circle. in the northern hemisphere this is known as the aurora borealis.