The BROR rocket experiment, launched from Esrange near Kiruna, Sweden, involved releases of barium clouds in the thermosphere to study auroral structures. The barium was ejected by the explosion-like combustion of ignited thermite. Shock waves could be observed to follow the ejections when the rocket speed was supersonic, but not when subsonic. The shock waves are attributed to ejected particulate matter from the thermite combustion that traveled at supersonic speed.

Powerful radio waves transmitted into the ionosphere from the ground were used to study electron energization in the pumped ionospheric plasma turbulence, by detecting optical emissions from atomic oxygen. Our results obtained with the EISCAT (European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association) facilities in northern Norway and optical detection with the ALIS (Auroral Large Imaging System) in northern Sweden suggest that long-wavelength upper hybrid waves are important in accelerating electrons.