"Decoding STEVE: Unraveling the Mysteries of this Unique Atmospheric Phenomenon"

STEVE, or Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, is an atmospheric phenomenon similar to the aurora but distinct from it. It is a streak of purplish light that appears in conjunction with the aurora and is created by heated gas in the upper atmosphere. STEVE was discovered by citizen scientists in Canada between 2015 and 2016 and has since been studied by researchers. It is less frequently observed than the aurora and occurs during geomagnetic storms. The name STEVE is a backronym derived from the original nickname given to the phenomenon by amateur aurora chasers.