Study of characteristics of polar cap auroras in DMSP images. Final report, 1 Oct 78-31 Dec 79. [50 eV to 20 keV]

Technical Report · Fri Feb 29 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6838436

Gussenhoven, M S

Energetic electron measurements from a particle detector on the DMSP/F2 satellite have been used to determine the corrected geomagnetic latitude (Lambda sub CGM) of the equatorward boundary of the auroral oval. The satellite was launched into a nearly sun-synchronous, polar orbit centered on the 0700-1900 MLT meridian. Due to the wobble of the dipole and a very slow precessional motion of the orbit more than 6000 boundary crossings could be studied in the 1600-2300 and 0400-1000 MLT sectors. The detectors, which have large geometric factors, look radially away from the earth and detect precipitating electrons with energies between 50eV and 20keV. In the evening sector the equatorward boundaries are precisely determined from the rise in the total electron flux. The morningside boundary cannot always be clearly delineated. Data were divided into one hour magnetic local time bins with about 400 samples per bin. In each of the MLT bins Lambda sub CGM was found to be linearly correlated to the Kp index. Regression values of Lambda sub CGM were projected to the magnetic equatorial plane using the Mead-Fairfield magnetic field model. The projected boundaries are not in good agreement with the injection boundaries of Mauk and McIlwain (1974).

• Research Organization: Boston Coll., Chestnut Hill, MA (USA). Dept. of Physics
• OSTI ID: 6838436
• Report Number(s): AD-A-082184
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
AURORAE
AURORAL OVAL
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
CONVECTION
DATA ACQUISITION
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY
ENERGY RANGE
EV RANGE
EV RANGE 10-100
EV RANGE 100-1000
FERMIONS
FLUX DENSITY
KEV RANGE
KEV RANGE 01-10
KEV RANGE 10-100
LEPTONS
MAGNETOSPHERE
MATHEMATICS
PLASMA SHEATH
POLAR-CAP ABSORPTION
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
SATELLITES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STATISTICS