Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

An auroral-zone electron precipitation event and its relationship to a magnetic bay

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research

The relationship of an auroral-zone electron precipitation event to a magnetic bay was examined using simultaneous observations of x-ray intensity at balloon altitudes, ionospheric absorption of cosmic radio noise, geomagnetic micropulsations in the 5- to 30-sec period range, and variations in the geomagnetic elements H, D, and Z. These observations show that an intense electron bombardment of the upper atmosphere was in progress prior to the bay and suggest that the current system of the bay was triggered'' by the sudden intensification and expansion of the electron precipitation. The motion of the current system of the westward electrojet and the electrons precipitating on the atmosphere was toward the north, indicating that processes well out of the lines of force through the auroral zone, rather than local field conditions, were responsible for the movement.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Berkeley
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-16-018303
OSTI ID:
4831409
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 67; ISSN 0148-0227
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English

Similar Records

Electron precipitation accompanying ionospheric current systems in the auroral zone
Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1962 · Journal of Geophysical Research · OSTI ID:4776076

A STUDY OF AURORAL ZONE X-RAYS AND THEIR RELATION TO GEOMAGNETIC BAYS AND MICROPULSATIONS
Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1961 · OSTI ID:4154063

Auroral-zone geomagnetic micropulsations with periods of 5 to 30 seconds
Journal Article · Wed Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1962 · Journal of Geophysical Research · OSTI ID:4802146