STEVE: A Glowing River Illuminates the French Sky
A vibrantstreak of red, white, and pink danced across the night sky over France earlier this month, captivating onlookers and leaving scientists intrigued. This celestial spectacle was no ordinary aurora borealis, but a rare atmospheric phenomenon known as STEVE, or Strong Thermal Emission VelocityEnhancement.
STEVE, a relatively recent discovery, is a captivating display of light that appears as a narrow, ribbon-like structure stretching across the sky. Unlikethe familiar green and blue hues of auroras, STEVE exhibits a distinctive red, white, and pink glow, often accompanied by a fainter, more expansive red band.
While the exact mechanisms behind STEVE are still under investigation,scientists have gathered compelling evidence suggesting that it is caused by a fast-moving river of hot ions flowing high above Earth’s atmosphere in the ionosphere. These ions, energized by solar activity, collide with neutral particles, releasing energy that manifests asthe vibrant light we see.
The image captured in Côte d’Opale, France, showcases STEVE in its full glory. The photographer, Louis LEROUX-GÉRÉ, skillfully captured the arc’s dynamic form using a wide-angle digital composite. The photograph reveals the intricate details of STEVE, includingthe bright, ribbon-like structure and the fainter, more expansive red glow that might be a related phenomenon called a Stable Auroral Red (SAR) arc.
While auroras are often associated with the polar regions, STEVE has been observed at lower latitudes, including in France. This suggests that the phenomenon is notsolely confined to the polar regions and may occur more frequently than previously thought.
The study of STEVE is still in its early stages, but its captivating appearance and intriguing origins have sparked significant interest among scientists. Further research promises to unravel the mysteries behind this unique atmospheric phenomenon, shedding light on the complex dynamics of Earth’supper atmosphere and its interactions with solar activity.
References:
- Astronomy Picture of the Day: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241028.html
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