Distribution of auroral arcs during quiet geomagnetic conditions

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA094iA03p02587· OSTI ID:6049988

Lassen, K; Danielsen, C ^[1]

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1. Danish Meteorological Institute, Copenhagen (Denmark)

Auroral arcs observed from the Greenland all-sky camera network during quiet intervals (AE < 50 nT) have been ordered in corrected geomagnetic latitude/time mass plots for different values of AE. The arcs are distributed in a pattern which is shown to coincide with the precipitation belt of auroral electrons determined by the DMSP satellites. This belt is known to be composed of two parts: an equatorial part (average energy of > 500 eV) and a poleward, low-energy part. Previous studies have shown that the arc pattern is composed of two subpatterns, too, the polar cap are pattern and the oval arc pattern. It is demonstrated that the polar cap arc pattern is situated in the poleward, low-energy part of the precipitation belt, connected to the low-latitude boundary layer, whereas the oval arc pattern is in the equatorial higher energy belt, connected to the plasma sheet. The dividing line between the two arc patterns is associated with the boundary of trapped {ge} 40-keV electrons. The designation polar cap arc pattern is shown to be ambiguous, wherefore it is proposed to replace it by the term high-latitude arc pattern.

• OSTI ID: 6049988
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 94:A3; ISSN JGREA; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA SHEET
POLAR REGIONS
POLAR-CAP AURORAE
SATELLITES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION