Which specific aurora phenomenon is sometimes referred to as the southern lights visible in high southern latitudes?

Introduction / Context:
Auroras are beautiful light displays that occur in the sky near the polar regions as a result of charged particles from the Sun interacting with the Earth magnetic field and atmosphere. The northern and southern hemisphere auroras have different traditional names. This question asks you to recall the term used for the southern lights visible in high southern latitudes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The phenomenon referred to as southern lights occurs near the South Pole.

• Options list various aurora names including australis, borealis, polaris, and coriolis.

• Aurora borealis is associated with the northern hemisphere.

• The correct name for the southern counterpart is required.

Concept / Approach:
By convention, the aurora in the northern hemisphere is called aurora borealis or northern lights, while in the southern hemisphere it is called aurora australis or southern lights. The word borealis relates to the north, and australis relates to the south. Other terms in the options are either general or incorrect combinations introduced to distract the test taker.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that aurora borealis refers to the northern lights seen near the Arctic Circle. Step 2: Remember that the southern hemisphere equivalent is called aurora australis. Step 3: Note that aurora polaris would be a general term for polar auroras but is not the specific traditional name used in the question. Step 4: Recognise that aurora coriolis is not a standard scientific or traditional term for any aurora phenomenon. Step 5: Conclude that aurora australis is the correct name for the southern lights.

Verification / Alternative check:
Scientific literature, astronomy guides, and popular science articles consistently use the term aurora australis for colourful sky displays over Antarctica and southern high latitude regions such as parts of Australia and New Zealand. They clearly distinguish these from aurora borealis in the north. No reliable source uses aurora coriolis as a formal name, and aurora polaris is a less common generic label rather than the specific one requested.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Aurora borealis refers specifically to the northern lights and therefore does not match the description of southern lights.

• Aurora polaris is not the widely used traditional term in this context and would at best describe polar auroras in general rather than the southern lights in particular.

• Aurora coriolis is incorrect and appears to be a distractor phrase combining the Coriolis effect with the word aurora.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may confuse borealis and australis or may not pay attention to the words northern and southern in the question. Others might be tempted by polaris because it sounds like polar. A simple memory aid is that boreal forests and borealis relate to the north, while Australia and australis begin with the same root indicating the south. This link makes it easy to remember that aurora australis is the southern lights.

Final Answer:
The phenomenon known as the southern lights is Aurora australis.