Why can we see the northern lights?

Aurorae are created as solar wind penetrates Earth's magnetic field and ionizes atmospheric particles in the upper atmosphere. The charged particles of the solar wind are captured in the magnetic field and are directed toward both poles. When the solar wind hits the atmosphere, particularly oxygen atoms and oxygen and nitrogen molecules, electrons are energized. When the electrons return to their ground state, they emit visible light as energy is released.

they are due o the earths magnetic field and cosmic rays . The field is strongest at the poles so countries in the arctic see them most often . Though sometimes they come as far south as north America and UK . you can see them often in Alaska or Iceland.

Difficult made simple, it's the solar wind impacting with our atmosphere

Nothing to do with the ice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_%28astronomy%2...