Atmospheric phenomenon damaging as to USA rural air (6,9)

I believe the answer is:

aurora australis

'atmospheric phenomenon' is the definition.
(aurora australis is a kind of atmospheric phenomenon)

'damaging as to usa rural air' is the wordplay.
'damaging' indicates anagramming the letters.
'as'+'to'+'usa'+'rural'+'air'='astousaruralair'
'astousaruralair' with letters rearranged gives 'AURORA AUSTRALIS'.

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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