Abstract
Numerous objects in the ionosphere, including both satellites and
meteors, having rapidly varying light intensity and color have been
observed in photographs taken during an active aurora. It is suggested
that theses variations may be attributed to Auroral Bombardment-induced
Light Emission and Sputtering produced by auroral particles striking
these objects. This phenomenon is found to increase the brightness of
some objects by more than a thousand-fold. It is hypothesized that this
phenomenon acting on a remnant dust cloud from ablated meteoric material
left along the path of its trajectory through the ionosphere could
produce the optical emissions known as STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission
Velocity Enhancement). The July 25, 2016 STEVE event is very closely
aligned in 3-dimensional direction with the location of the radiant for
the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower. The best alignment in time
with the radiant direction coincides with the appearance of rising
flashes of light that occurred 5 minutes before STEVE’s initial
visibility. These rising flashes of light might also be caused by the
hypothetical meteor.