Auroral data analysis. Final report, 1 Sep 1974--30 Sep 1975

Technical Report · Tue Sep 30 04:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:7226084

Winningham, J D; Heikkila, W J

Data from soft particle spectrometers on the ISIS-1 and -2 satellites and a sounding rocket have been analyzed and compared with other observations to reveal their relation to auroral, magnetospheric, and ionospheric effects. Comparison of concurrent ground and interplanetary magnetic field data with ISIS-1 cleft data revealed the cleft position to be sensitive to changes in both AE and B/sub z/. Concurrent plasma, particle, and field data from a sounding rocket launched into the cleft demonstrated the cleft to be a region of complex physical interactions. Electron temperature and density enhancements were observed in the cleft, as well as changes in the convection pattern. This flight also demonstrated that a bottomside ionosonde is a useful tool to determine the cleft's equatorward boundary, even in full sunlight. All-sky-camera data show that a distinct fade occurs in auroral arcs prior to the brightening characteristics of the initiation of a substorm. Detailed comparison of aircraft and satellite data taken during a period of magnetic quiescence revealed that the region of auroral particle precipitation coincides with the region of diffuse aurora. Electron density and scale height increased within the auroral precipitation band, as did fluctuations in density. An empirical relation was derived that relates electron energy flux to 6300-A fluxes. It was also shown that significant nonparticle-induced 6300-A fluxes exist in and poleward of the cleft. (GRA)

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., Dallas (USA). Richardson Center for Advanced Studies
• OSTI ID: 7226084
• Report Number(s): AD-A-020300
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
CONVECTION
COUPLING
CURRENTS
DAILY VARIATIONS
DIMENSIONS
DISTURBANCES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTROJETS
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ENERGY
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
HEIGHT
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOSPHERE
PLANETARY IONSPHERES
SCALE HEIGHT
SPACE
VARIATIONS