Aurora and Geomagnetic Storms is a dedicated GeoLira view for this part of the observatory. It combines the route-specific interface with the same source, freshness, privacy and evidence boundaries used across the platform.
OVATION is an auroral-activity model
The GeoLira aurora layer uses NOAA OVATION to estimate the spatial distribution of particle precipitation and auroral activity. It is a model or nowcast, not a sky camera. The product timestamp is checked before publishing; a missing fresh model should disable the live layer or mark it stale rather than leave an apparently current image.
Kp, Bz and solar wind are context, not a guarantee
Kp describes global activity, southward Bz favors magnetospheric coupling, and solar-wind parameters influence the system response. Together they help explain conditions, but they do not form a simple equation that guarantees aurora visibility from a user's home.
Surface visibility also depends on terrestrial conditions
Aurora observation requires favorable geometry and activity together with darkness, a useful horizon, limited cloud cover and manageable light pollution. An aurora model is therefore not a local weather forecast or an observation guarantee. Local cloud cover is outside the GeoLira live-map scope and should be checked with a dedicated weather service.