Reading and understanding the Aurora Borealis
There is a lot of work and precise study that goes into each hunting of the Northern Lights. In order to deliver on your expectations and to help you to see what you came here for, our expert guides debate (sometimes heatedly), monitor, and try to understand the messages from 5-6 satellites that never agree or show the same data, before heading out to pick up the fellow hunters – ´´you´´. They collect sky data on the way during the tour to compare it with the satellites. Monitoring and understanding space weather, flares, magnetic fields and their relationship with each other. North-south axis and the earth’s rotation. All of this piled up in constant intellectual performance to allow us to have the highest possible chance to capture the glory of the Northern Lights on each tour.
Our guides are not only knowledgeable but passionate about the Northern Lights, ensuring that every tour is informative, captivating, and tailored to maximise your chances of witnessing this breathtaking phenomenon. With hundreds of five-star reviews on TripAdvisor between them, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service and creating lifelong memories for our guests. Our carefully selected tour guides are all equally passionate about delivering the best possible experience and they understand this may be a once in a lifetime for you and therefore give their all. Let us guide you through an enchanting journey under the Northern Lights, where luxury and nature intertwine.
What does the Kp Index actually mean?
The Kp Index is in fact derived from German “Planetarische Kennziffer´´ which means Planetary Index. It is an indication or measure of geomagnetic activity in the Earth’s atmosphere.
What is the Kp Index?
The beauty of the Northern Lights has spread far and wide, but do you know what can help people catch this mesmerising phenomenon at its best? It’s the Kp index, a global system identified to tackle geomagnetic disturbances, which are ardently monitored by magnetic observatories recording magnetic data across the globe.
This index quantifies the intensity of auroral activity at any given time using an integer scale that ranges from 0 to 9. On this scale, a value of 1 signifies calm geomagnetic conditions, whereas a value of 5 or above hints at the onset of a possible geomagnetic storm. These values, in turn, affect the clarity and location of the Northern Lights on Earth, helping hunters to gauge where the aurora will be brightest. But is it true that the higher the Kp index, the brighter the aurora?
Exposing the High Kp Myth
Most aurora chasers might think that a higher Kp index, say 5-9, means a brighter display. But that’s not necessarily the case, especially for countries like Iceland.
The Kp index is an indication to where in the world you can see this stellar show, as it correlates with the geographical range of the auroral activity rather than its brightness. A Kp index of 2-3 is actually ideal for Iceland, which is enough to see the lights. The reasons for this are that the aurora geomagnetic latitudes for Kp 2-3 are 62.5°and 60.4° respectively, which are close to the latitudes of Iceland between 63°N and 67°N. When the Kp index shoots up, the northern lights often drift too far south of the country and pass over rather than being captured for viewers in Iceland.
Finding the Best area to spot the Aurora following a Kp Index in Iceland
Now if you’re planning to go hunting the Northern Lights in Iceland, your ideal choice is to go for a Kp index of 2-3. This scope will not only give you a good possibility of seeing the lights, but will also guarantee that they can be visible in the area of Iceland.
A Kp index of 5-9 will have high auroral activity which will bring strong auroral storms, which will also give aurora hunters a chance to enjoy the dance of lights in Iceland. However, the forecast is sometimes not guaranteed or it may not be as easy as it sounds. To avoid missing your chance, your best bet would be a professional local guide.
Let’s Tango with the Northern Lights!
Since we’ve let you in on the secret, it’s time to go hunting the Northern Lights with confidence and a better chance for success. Remember, it’s not about how high the Kp index is on the day, but where it leads you to see the Aurora in all its splendour.
To maximise your chances and have the best possible experience, you’d better join a tour with a professional guide. To ensure your experience book your Northern lights hunting trip now with Aurora Luxury Iceland, and let us guide you through an enchanting journey under the Northern Lights, where luxury and nature intertwine.
Aurora Luxury Tours has the highest rated Aurora guides, with years of successful hunting of the Northern Lights in Iceland. Our guides are not only knowledgeable but passionate about the Northern Lights, ensuring that every tour is informative, captivating, and tailored to maximise your chances of witnessing this breathtaking phenomenon. With hundreds of five-star reviews on TripAdvisor, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service and creating lifelong memories for our guests.