It is shown that a powerful radio wave passing through the F region of the auroral ionosphere can modify the ion velocity gradient driven low-frequency electrostatic fluctuation spectra due to parametric interaction processes. These are studied with the help of a nonlinear dispersion relation that includes the ponderomotive and differential Joule heating nonlinearities. Our results show how nonthermal fluctuations can be produced and controlled by a powerful radio wave in the auroral F region plasma. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1992