Green Airglow—A High Pressure, Heat Dome over Colorado | Earth Science
A record-setting ridge of high pressure recently occured over the American west, creating a heat dome that meteorologists have called "otherworldly." It might be partly responsible for last night's display of green airglow over Colorado:
"I've heard that airglow loves high pressure," says Aaron Watson, who photographed the all-sky glow from the West Elk Mountains. "I was hoping to see the auroras, but was treated to this green glow instead."
Airglow is produced by photochemistry in Earth's upper atmosphere. For instance, there is a thin layer of air 95 km high where oxygen atoms (O) and oxygen molecules (O2) mix together. When O bumps into O2, the collision creates a spark of green light—airglow. Other reactions contribute, too.
High pressure can accelerate these reactions. Pressure gradients and powerful mountain winds associated with extreme ridging events drive intense atmospheric gravity waves into the mesosphere, boosting the intensity of airglow.
A heat dome occurs when a large area of high pressure in the atmosphere forms a ridge over a region and remains stationary for days or even weeks. This phenomenon acts like a lid, preventing heat from escaping and blocking cloud formation. This can result in persistently high temperatures and minimal relief from the heat.
Date: March 19, 2026
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