New atmospheric phenomenon named Steve discovered by aurora watchers

An atmospheric phenomenon has been discovered by citizen scientists and aurora photographers — and so little is known about it right now that they’ve named it Steve.

The light had been referred to as a proton arc among aurora watchers, but when University of Calgary associate professor Eric Donovan came across the photos, he knew that could not be.

more…

When a Swarm satellite flew through the phenomenon, it recorded a temperature spike of 3,000 degrees Celsius in an area 300 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. The data also showed a 25km-wide ribbon of gas flowing at a significantly faster rate than its surroundings at 6km per second, compared to the 10m/s measured on either side of the ribbon.

This is the first time I’ve heard of a satellite flying safely through a phenomenon in the Earth’s atmosphere. Satellites flying through our atmosphere don’t generally last very long.

The “proton arc” has made an appearance on apod one and a half years ago.

“late last August, forecasts predicted that an otherwise beautiful night sky would be lit up with auroral green. While setting up for the image, a proton arc — a rare type of aurora — appeared. The red arc lasted only about 15 minutes, but that was long enough to capture in a 30-second exposure. As the name indicates, proton arcs are caused not by electrons but by more massive protons that bombard the Earth’s atmosphere following an energetic event on the Sun. “

Proton arc video observed from Tasmania. “Life cycle of a proton arc”.

https://youtu.be/p5J7L5-bc1M

Eric Donovan says the arcs are not made of protons

The light had been referred to as a proton arc among aurora watchers, but when University of Calgary associate professor Eric Donovan came across the photos, he knew that could not be.

Proton aurora are not visible — although Professor Donovan also did not recognise the light in the photos as a categorised phenomenon.

> Proton aurora are not visible

That’s the key here. Is it true or false?

There is clearly a difference of opinion among the experts.

mollwollfumble said:

> Proton aurora are not visible

That’s the key here. Is it true or false?

There is clearly a difference of opinion among the experts.

Cymek said:

mollwollfumble said:

> Proton aurora are not visible

That’s the key here. Is it true or false?

There is clearly a difference of opinion among the experts.

Then that is a matter for experts to sort out.