This workshop will use aurora and associated data as a way to teach about magnetic fields. The auroral currents in the ionosphere will be modelled as current-carrying wires. We will work with Biot and Savart’s law, with wires with current, and with the right hand rule. 

Real field data from auroral were obtained from the Magnetic Observatory Network. From the measured magnetic field vector components, your students can determine the direction and the strength of the Auroral currents. 

This activity was built by the NASA HEAT (Heliophysics Education Activation Team).