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New Science in Plain Sight: Citizen Scientists Lead to the Discovery of Optical Structure in the Upper AtmosphereA glowing ribbon of purple light running east-west in the night sky has recently been observed by citizen scientists. This narrow, subauroral, visible structure, distinct from the traditional auroral oval, was largely undocumented in the scientific literature and little was known about its formation. Amateur photo sequences showed colors distinctly different from common types of aurora and occasionally indicated magnetic field aligned substructures. Observations from the Swarm satellite as it crossed the arc have revealed an unusual level of electron temperature enhancement and density depletion, along with a strong westward ion flow, indicating that a pronounced subauroral ion drift (SAID) is associated with this structure. These early results suggest the arc is an optical manifestation of SAID, presenting new opportunities for investigation of the dynamic SAID signatures from the ground. On the basis of the measured ion properties and original citizen science name, we propose to identify this arc as a Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE).
Document ID
20180004750
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
MacDonald, Elizabeth A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Donovan, Eric
(University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Nishimura, Yukitoshi
(Boston Univ. Boston, MA, United States)
Case, Nathan A.
(Lancaster University Lancaster, United Kingdom)
Gillies, D. Megan
(University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Gallardo-Lacourt, Bea
(University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Archer, William E.
(University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Spanswick, Emma L.
(University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Bourassa, Notanee
(University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Connors, Martin
(University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Heavner, Matthew
(New Mexico Consortium (NMC) Los Alamos, NM, )
Jackel, Brian
(University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Kosar, Burcu
(New Mexico Consortium (NMC) Los Alamos, NM, )
Knudsen, David J.
(University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Ratzlaff, Chris
(University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
Schofield, Ian
(Athabasca University Athabasca, Alberta, Canada)
Date Acquired
August 28, 2018
Publication Date
March 14, 2018
Publication Information
Publication: Science Advances
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Volume: 4
Issue: 3
e-ISSN: 2375-2548
Subject Category
Optics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN58338
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX17AL22G
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF 1344296
CONTRACT_GRANT: FA9550-15-1-0179
CONTRACT_GRANT: AGS-1737823
CONTRACT_GRANT: ST/M001059/1
CONTRACT_GRANT: CSA-1006482
CONTRACT_GRANT: CSA-10006508
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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