A STUDY OF AURORAL ZONE X-RAYS AND THEIR RELATION TO GEOMAGNETIC BAYS AND MICROPULSATIONS
S>A series of high-altitude balloon flights was made in the auroral zone to investigate the relationship between auroral zone x rays and geomagnetic disturbances. The detectors used in these flights consisted of thin-walled Geiger counters, having different sensitivities to x rays by virtue of their cathode construction, and a Geiger counter telescope. The counting rates were compared with geomagnetic records made at the College Observatory of the U. S. Coast and Geondetic Survey. From a total of 9 balloon flights, covering 134 hrs at altitudes of approximately 30 km, x rays were detected over a period of 26 hrs. It was found that a relationship existed between the presence of x rays at high altitude and negative bays in the horizontal component of the geomagnetic field. Assuming that the ionospheric currents responsible for the magnetic disturbances could be approximated by a line current flowing at an altitude of 100 km, it was found that x rays were observed consistently when the center of the current system came close to or crossed the zenith of the balloon instrument and the magnetic observatory. A comparison of x ray data with observations of geomagnetic micropulsations showed that, while the 2 phenomena may have a common cause, no firm relationship could be established. (Dissertation Abstr.)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-000951
- OSTI ID:
- 4154063
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Auroral-zone geomagnetic micropulsations with periods of 5 to 30 seconds
A STUDY OF X-RAYS AT HIGH ALTITUDES IN THE AURORAL ZONE AND RELATED GEOPHYSICAL PHENOMENA