Mysterious Aurora-Like Lights Above Canada Continue to Confuse Scientists

[ffr]

New research into a strange atmospheric effect known as STEVE has failed to associate its enigmatic lights with aurora, pointing to the presence of an entirely new type of atmospheric phenomenon.

Scientists started to look into these strange lights just a few years ago after people began to post images to a Facebook group called the Alberta Aurora Chasers. These lights have the outward appearance of conventional auroras, but instead of vast sheets blanketing the night sky, these lights are narrow in scope, appearing as colorful ribbons. The phenomenon was given a silly name, STEVE, or Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, but the presence of these lights is now the subject of serious scientific scrutiny.
<snip>

Despite these differences, scientists understandably thought that STEVEs were produced by the same processes that result in auroras, namely particle precipitation onto the ionosphere. Earlier this year, Gallardo-Lacourt linked a phenomenon known as subauroral ion drift (SAID) to STEVEs, hypothesizing that strong westward ion flows might have something to do with it. This research suggested that fast-moving ions and super-hot electrons are passing through the atmosphere where STEVEs are observed. It was an important association, but the ultimate cause of STEVE remained unknown.
- Gizmodo

[GeorgeGist]

1. Purple haze ...

Excuse me while I kiss the sky.

[silverweb]

2. Aliens.

They're signaling the Mother Ship to come get them the hell off this planet before the insane homo sapiens species makes it completely uninhabitable.