This question describes how some energy transitions become more prominent as you higher in the atmosphere. Short summary: Some electron transitions are "forbidden" by quantum mechanical selection rules, and so have a larger time delay from time of excitation until time of photon emission. Thus, low in the atmosphere (high pressure), it's more likely that the species loses the excitation energy by collision than emission.
However, as you go higher in the atmosphere, you see red (due to energy transition in atomic oxygen). The characteristic green line (also due to atomic oxygen, but different transition) disappears.
Why don't you see a mix of the two colours? After all, from the collision rate argument you would expect fast transitions (like the green of atomic oxygen) to become even more prominent.
Why is it that some transitions are less likely as you increase in height?
(I have a feeling that the answer to this question will also explain why nitrogen does not play a more central role in the colour of the aurora.)
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