Spectrophotometric remote sensing of the diffuse aurora. Final report, 1 August 1979-30 November 1987

Technical Report · Mon Nov 30 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5268733

Vondrak, R R; Robinson, R M

Auroral electron precipitation produces both E-region ionization and bremsstrahlung x rays. In a set of coordinated observations, these atmospheric effects of electron precipitation were measured simultaneously by the x ray sensor on the DMSP/F2 spacecraft and by the incoherent-scatter radar at Chatanika, Alaska. In all data sets there was good agreement between the locations of the x ray source regions and the regions of enhanced E-region ionization. Detailed comparisons were made between the measured and inferred altitude profiles of ionization for two auroral conditions, a premidnight auroral band and a sunlit diffuse aurora. These comparisons validate the ability to infer auroral ionization from satellite-based x ray measurements.

• Research Organization: Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., Palo Alto, CA (USA). Lockheed Palo Alto Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5268733
• Report Number(s): AD-A-188599/5/XAB; LMSC/D-068460
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALTITUDE
AURORAE
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
DIFFUSION
DOCUMENT TYPES
E REGION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
INCOHERENT SCATTERING
IONIZATION
IONOSPHERE
LEPTONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PROGRESS REPORT
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY