Temporal evolution of a small auroral substorm as viewed from high altitudes with Dynamics Explorer 1
A small auroral substorm is investigated with auroral imaging photometers carried on the spacecraft Dynamics Explorer 1. Initial brightening along the auroral oval and the subsequent westward and poleward motions of intense, localized emission regions are associated with auroral surges. Following substorm onset, another region of less intense emissions is observed to develop at lower latitudes and adjacent to the bright region near local midnight. This second region expands toward the east. The bright zone of auroral emissions associated with the surges is interpreted as the signature of electron acceleration along magnetic field lines threading the boundary layer of the plasma sheet in the magnetotail. The more diffuse, less intense region is identified with eastward-drifting electrons injected into the plasma sheet and ring current following substorm onset. No rapid poleward motion of the discrete aurora is detected during substorm recovery. 9 references.
- Research Organization:
- Iowa Univ., Iowa City
- OSTI ID:
- 5881070
- Journal Information:
- Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 12; ISSN GPRLA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
AURORAL ZONES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELEMENTS
EXPLORER SATELLITES
LUMINOSITY
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETOTAIL
NIGHT SKY
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXYGEN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA SHEET
SATELLITES
SKY