In the vast expanse of the night sky, a new and mysterious phenomenon has been discovered, one that only reveals itself after midnight. This strange ‘sky glow’ has intrigued scientists and sky watchers alike, offering new insights into the dynamic processes occurring in Earth’s atmosphere. The phenomenon, which has yet to receive an official name, was recently observed in the data from the Ramfjordmoen Research Station in the Norwegian Arctic.
Discovery and Characteristics
The unusual glow, similar in appearance to the well-known auroras, manifests as a clear purple streak extending approximately 1,000 km (620 miles). This phenomenon was captured on December 28, 2021, and only appeared post-midnight, differentiating it from other known atmospheric glows like STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) which typically appears before midnight and moves westward.1
Scientists have noted that this new ‘sky glow’ could be an inverse counterpart to STEVE. While STEVE is characterized by a fast-flowing stream of heated gas moving westward, this newly discovered phenomenon shows ions likely flowing eastward, indicating a similar but oppositely directed process.
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The Role of Satellites
Satellites from the European Space Agency’s Swarm mission played a crucial role in studying this phenomenon. These satellites measured the conditions in the purple streak before, during, and after its appearance. The data gathered suggests that the ions involved in creating the glow were indeed moving eastward, confirming the initial hypotheses of scientists.
STEVE and Its Twin
The initial discovery of the sky glow STEVE in 2017 by the Alberta Aurora Chasers group brought significant attention to the study of sub-auroral ion drifts. STEVE’s distinct purple glow and rapid westward ion flows have been studied extensively, revealing much about the interactions between solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere. Scientists had long suspected that a similar phenomenon could occur after midnight, flowing in the opposite direction. The recent observations seem to confirm these suspicions, suggesting the existence of an “anti-STEVE” or what some have proposed to call “SAM” (STEVE After Midnight).
Scientific Observations
Detailed observations using ground-based cameras and low-altitude satellites have shown that the new phenomenon shares characteristics with STEVE, such as its purple hue and the presence of fast ion flows. However, unlike STEVE, which is associated with westward flows known as subauroral ion drifts (SAID), this post-midnight glow appears to be linked with eastward flows termed dawnside auroral polarization streams (DAPS).2
Event 1, observed on December 28, 2021, occurred under relatively calm geomagnetic and solar wind conditions, suggesting that such phenomena can occur even without significant disturbances in the geomagnetic field. Another similar glow was noted on November 13, 2012, under more disturbed conditions, indicating that multiple factors might influence the occurrence of these glows.
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Implications and Future Research
The discovery of this new sky glow opens up new avenues for research into Earth’s atmospheric dynamics. Understanding these phenomena can provide deeper insights into the interactions between solar winds and Earth’s magnetosphere, and how these interactions can create such striking visual displays.
Continued monitoring and data collection by satellites and ground-based observatories are essential for further understanding these mysterious glows. Researchers are keen to investigate whether other similar phenomena exist and what conditions are necessary for their formation.
Conclusion
The discovery of a strange ‘sky glow’ that only appears after midnight marks a significant advancement in our understanding of atmospheric phenomena. As scientists continue to study this phenomenon, we can expect to learn more about the complex interactions that occur in Earth’s upper atmosphere and how they create such stunning visual effects.
This intriguing discovery reminds us of the vastness of our universe and the many mysteries it still holds, waiting to be uncovered by curious minds and advanced technology.
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