Association of Picket‐Fence With Auroral Continuum Emissions

Abstract We present observations of aurora‐like “picket‐fence” emissions occurring simultaneously with broad‐band auroral continuum emission structures. The continuum structures exhibit spectral properties similar to the Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE), but appear at higher latitudes, alongside the aurora. Picket‐fence emissions are well known to accompany STEVE; the events presented here extend that association to continuum emissions more broadly. We analyze the spatio‐temporal evolution of the pickets and find apparent optical propagation speeds of ∼350–560 m/s on average, comparable to those associated with STEVE, though they lack the characteristic east‐west orientation, aligning variably along continuum structure edges. Spectral analysis reveals the presence of 557.7 nm green‐line emission, no measured 427.8 nm emission, and an N 2 1P to green‐line ratio comparable to that observed alongside STEVE. These results place the picket‐fence phenomenon in a broader context, as a general signature of continuum emission dynamics rather than a feature exclusively associated with STEVE.