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VHF Doppler spectra of radar echoes associated with a visual auroral form: observations and implications

Journal Article · · J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 10, pp. 1681-1687
Detailed analysis of a relatively uncomplicated premidnight auroral event shows that there can be a close correspondence between visual auroral and radar auroral forms. The radar echoes are not exactly spatially coincident with the visual form, but they occur near the equatorward edge. High-resolution Doppler radar data are consistent with the picture of a horizontal current flowing near the equatorward edge of the form. There is some evidence that the two-stream instability is a causal mechanism for producing some of the radar auroral irregularities; there is additional evidence indicating that the gradient drift mechanism may also play a major role. (auth)
Research Organization:
NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, 80302
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-29-001306
OSTI ID:
4417886
Journal Information:
J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 10, pp. 1681-1687, Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 10, pp. 1681-1687; ISSN JGREA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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