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aurora borealis sounds

Can You Hear the Northern Lights? The Truth About Aurora Sounds

Have you ever wondered if the dazzling Northern Lights make any sound? You've seen the photos of the colorful Auroras dancing across the night sky, but is hearing them possible? According to recent studies, the answer is yes. Under the right conditions, you can hear the Aurora Borealis.

When the world around you is blanketed in silence, the Auroras are intensely active, and the atmosphere is just right, you may detect a faint crackling sound. Some describe it as similar to high-voltage power lines buzzing and popping. The sounds are thought to be caused by disturbances in the magnetosphere, the same thing that produces the visual spectacle.

So the next time you find yourself far from the noise and lights of civilization, gazing up at a particularly vibrant Aurora, stay very still and listen closely. You may just hear the Northern Lights. 

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aurora borealis sounds

The Science Behind the Sounds of Aurora Borealis

 The Northern Lights are one of nature's most spectacular shows, dancing curtains of green, red, and blue lights in the night sky. While visually stunning, many people report hearing strange sounds during intense Aurora displays. Are these mysterious crackles and pops real or imagined?

According to recent studies, you actually can hear the Northern Lights under the right conditions. When the environment around you is extremely quiet and Aurora activity is high, the electromagnetic disturbances that create the lights can also generate very low-frequency radio waves. These radio waves can sometimes resonate and create audible noises, like faint crackling or buzzing sounds. 
aurora borealis sounds
 The sounds tend to be very subtle, usually around 60 decibels or less, similar to a quiet conversation. They may resemble high-voltage electricity lines, radio static, or the rustling of autumn leaves. The noises seem to correspond with bursts of light and color in the Aurora as if you're hearing the celestial performance in stereo.

Not everyone will hear the Northern Lights, even when seeing a spectacular display. Several factors have to align, including a very quiet surrounding area without man-made noises, an intense geomagnetic activity that night, and just the right atmospheric conditions to conduct the radio waves to your location. The sounds also tend to be more noticeable when observed from higher latitudes, closer to the Auroral oval.

While mysterious and ephemeral, the sounds of the Aurora are very real. If you're fortunate enough to experience a dazzling Northern Lights show in a remote, natural place, stay very still and listen closely. You just might catch a bit of the celestial symphony. 
can you hear the northern lights
Recent studies have confirmed what some observers have long suspected—you can hear the Northern Lights. When the Aurora is active and environmental conditions are just right, people report hearing a crackling sound, like electricity.

A 2016 study found that about 1 in 5 people who observed the Northern Lights in person also heard sounds, like hissing, crackling or swishing. The sounds seem to coincide with flashes of light in the sky. Researchers in Finland set up recording equipment in a quiet, isolated area and captured audio of the Aurora Borealis. Upon analysis, they found the sounds matched the pulsating lights. 
can you hear the northern lights
How is this possible? The leading theory is something called electrophonics. As the electrically charged particles from the sun collide with gasses in our atmosphere, they emit light and sometimes sound. The sounds are thought to be similar to the buzz of a nearby power line. For the sounds to be audible, the Auroral display needs to be intense and the observing location very isolated from man-made noises.

The sounds are said to be barely perceptible, like a faint crackling or rustling sound. Don’t expect anything loud or overpowering. Reports indicate the Aurora sounds tend to be subtle, in the range of 20 to 40 decibels, so surrounding ambient noise easily drowns them out. To have the best chance of hearing the Northern Lights, find an observation spot far from any artificial light and sound pollution. Then wait for a geomagnetic storm to produce bright, active Auroral displays.

When the skies dance with color and light, stay very still and listen. You just might hear nature’s own polar symphony. 
can you hear the northern lights

Optimal Conditions for Hearing the Sounds of the Northern Lights

To hear the sounds of the Northern Lights, several conditions need to align. When the stars align, you may be in for an unforgettable experience.

A Quiet, Dark Location
The sounds of the Aurora Borealis are usually very faint and subtle. To perceive them, you need to be in an area far away from noise pollution and light. Head to a secluded spot in the countryside, a mountain, or forest—the further from civilization the better. Once there, give your ears time to adjust to the silence and darkness.

High Aurora Activity
The sounds are generated by the energetic particles from the sun interacting with the Earth's magnetic field, so visible Northern Lights activity needs to be strong. Check an Aurora forecast to see when the lights are expected to be most active. The more intense the lights appear, especially quick moving and colorful displays, the more likely the sounds will be audible. 
noices of the northern lights
Still Weather
Any wind will mask the delicate sounds of the Aurora. Try to pick a night when the air is calm and still. While clear skies are ideal for viewing the lights, temperature inversions where warmer air is trapped close to the ground can also help carry the sounds to your ears.

Patience
Hearing the sounds of the Northern Lights requires patience. Find a comfortable position, remain still and silent, and focus your hearing. The sounds may be subtle at first, resembling static, crackling or rustling. But with time and practice discerning the sounds from the background environment, you'll be tuned into an extraordinary natural phenomenon.

With the right conditions and patience, you may be lucky enough to hear the Aurora sing, crackle, and pop. Let the sounds of nature's greatest light show transport you. But even if you don't hear a peep, experiencing the Northern Lights in full glory will still be an unforgettable adventure.
noices of the northern lights

Descriptions of the Types of Sounds Associated With Auroras

The mysterious sounds associated with the Northern Lights have been described in many ways. Some compare the sounds to rustling leaves, crackling campfires, or swooshing fabrics. The most common sounds reported are:

Crackling
A loud, crackling noise like frying eggs or popping popcorn. This sound is thought to be caused by electromagnetic waves interacting with particles in the atmosphere. As the aurora becomes more active and intense, the crackling may become louder and more frequent.

Sizzling
A faint, steady sizzle like bacon frying in a pan. This constant white noise-like sound tends to be more subtle but can last for the duration of an auroral display. The sizzling is attributed to the same electromagnetic interactions that cause the crackling sounds. 
noices of the northern lights
Swishing
A soft, swooshing sound has been compared to gently waving silk fabrics or a flag flapping in the breeze. This swishing sound may be caused by charged particle flows and solar wind within the aurora. As with the other sounds, the swishing tends to intensify as auroral activity increases but remains relatively constant and smooth.

Pulsing
Some observers report a pulsating “whump, whump, whump” sound in time with the flickering auroral lights. This pulsating effect is thought to relate to fluctuations in the solar wind and geomagnetic conditions that influence the aurora. The pulses may increase or decrease in speed along with changes in the auroral display.

While auroral sounds remain a controversial phenomenon, many observers insist they have heard strange noises during spectacular aurora displays, especially in remote areas far from man-made sounds. The next time you spot a dazzling display of the Northern Lights, find a quiet place to watch, listen closely, and you may just hear the Auroras dance. 
northern lights sounds

FAQs: Can You Hear the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights are one of the most spectacular natural phenomena on Earth. Their dazzling displays of color and light dancing across the night sky inspire awe and wonder. But can you actually hear the Aurora Borealis? This is a common question, and the short answer is: sometimes.

Under the right conditions, the Northern Lights can produce audible sounds. However, it requires an extremely quiet surrounding without any man-made noises, as the sounds tend to be very faint. The sounds are usually described as rapid sputtering, crackling, or hissing noises. They are thought to be caused by electromagnetic disturbances in the atmosphere when the Aurora becomes very active. 
northern lights sounds
The Science Behind the Sounds
As solar wind particles collide with gasses in the atmosphere during intense Aurora activity, they energize the gasses and cause them to vibrate. These vibrations sometimes translate into sounds that humans can perceive. The sounds tend to be more audible at higher latitudes where Auroras are more frequent and vibrant. Some historical accounts of explorers describe hearing sounds like “rustling silk” during very active displays. 
do the northern lights make noise

Can You Record the Sounds?

Recording the sounds of the Northern Lights has proven challenging due to their soft volume and the difficulty of filtering out ambient noise. However, some recent studies have captured audio recordings of the crackling and popping sounds during active Auroras using highly sensitive microphones in very remote, pristine locations. The recordings confirm that the Aurora can generate real sounds, though they may still be difficult for most people to hear with the naked ear.

While seeing the spectacular light show of the Aurora Borealis is on many people's bucket lists, hearing the sounds of the Northern Lights remains elusive for most. But for those who are lucky enough to experience the sight and sound of a vibrant Aurora display in an ultra-quiet setting, it is sure to be a profoundly moving experience. The combination of visual wonder and auditory enchantment in the peace of a natural landscape is the stuff of dreams.
do the northern lights make noise

Conclusion

So there you have it. The Northern Lights are usually silent spectacles of color and light dancing across the sky, but sometimes if you're lucky and the conditions are just right, you might be able to catch a faint crackling in the air. Next time you're out under the Auroras, find a secluded spot away from any noise pollution, lie back and just listen. You never know, you might become one of the few who can say you truly heard the music of the spheres as the Northern Lights danced overhead. How's that for a magical memory to walk away with? The world is filled with so many wonders, sometimes you just have to open your senses and be still to discover them.

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