The aurora borealis will become a regular sight, as an ecologist explains why the sky is turning pink over the Odesa region.

The peak of solar activity occurs every 11 years; however, during previous periods, auroras were not observed over the Odessa region. The reason is that the geomagnetic field can also influence the colors of the night sky. This was explained by Vladislav Balinsky, chairman of the public organization "Green Leaf," a chemist and biologist, in an interview with the Ukrainian Information Service.

Solar activity is indeed the primary factor in the emergence of auroras. However, the geomagnetic field is equally important. During a solar storm, it traps radiation, protecting life on Earth from harmful effects. Over the North and South Poles, the geomagnetic field is at its lowest, allowing particles from the solar wind to penetrate the lower layers of the atmosphere, exciting electrons in oxygen, nitrogen, and other gas atoms — and the electrons begin to emit light, usually in shades of green or yellowish-green.

In the upper layers of the atmosphere, when solar radiation encounters a strong geomagnetic field, electrons glow in red and magenta hues. This is why we see a pink sky over the Odessa region.

Why has the aurora frequency increased over Odessa?

"New scientific studies show that the Earth's geomagnetic field also has its cycles. It can weaken or strengthen. Research indicates that over the past 200 years, the Earth's geomagnetic field has weakened by 10%," Vladislav Balinsky explained.

This weakening allows solar wind to penetrate further into the atmosphere, causing auroras. The cycle can last hundreds or even thousands of years, so the scientist advises the residents of Odessa to get used to the colorful sky.

"I would also add that auroras do not significantly impact people, animals, or technology. The greatest threat to health and the operation of electrical grids comes from the electromagnetic component observed simultaneously with a solar storm, two to three days before the appearance of the aurora," the ecologist noted.

Recall that on the evening of October 10, Ukrainians observed the northern lights in several regions. Photos were shared on social media by residents of Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Rivne, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and other areas.

Additionally, in August, the journal Earth, Planets and Space published the first hyperspectral image of the northern lights. This allowed scientists to gather new data about this mysterious phenomenon.