Ionospheric irregularities: auroral motions and plasma drifts. Final report, 10 Jan--30 Sep 1974

Technical Report · Mon Apr 07 04:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:7187363

Sears, R D

Photometric measurements of auroral intensities and spatial structure were made at Chatanika, Alaska during 1973 and 1974. The auroral intensities measured during 1974 in support of the ICE CAP '74 program of experiments are analyzed in terms of the energy input from precipitating particles. Auroral motion data which were obtained during the ICE CAP '73 program are analyzed in terms of the direction and velocity of the wavelike structure of the auroras. These velocity data are compared with measurements of the ionospheric plasma motion made by the Chatanika incoherent scatter radar. Over a wide range of auroral conditions, at least part of the time, it is found that the motions of auroral forms agree with the motion of the ionospheric plasma. This behavior suggests that both phenomena are driven by magnetospheric E-fields superimposed upon the ionosphere. (GRA)

• Research Organization: Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., Palo Alto, CA (USA). Lockheed Palo Alto Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 7187363
• Report Number(s): AD-A-011371; LMSC/D-405729
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALASKA
AURORAE
DISTURBANCES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONOSPHERE
MOTION
NORTH AMERICA
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
PHOTOMETRY
PLASMA DRIFT
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
USA
VELOCITY
VISIBLE RADIATION