FUV-visible photometric imaging of aurorae

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JA02561· OSTI ID:75636

Tobiska, W K; Gladstone, G R; Chakrabarti, S; Link, R ^[1]; Shepherd, M G; McConnell, J C ^[2]; Schmidtke, G ^[3]; Stasek, G ^[4]

---

1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
2. York Univ., North York, Ontario (Canada)
3. IPM, Freiburg (Germany)
4. PTS, Freiburg (Germany)

Photometric images of 130.4-, 337.1-, 391.4-, and 557.7-nm auroral airglow emission are presented for November 16, 1980, and December 9, 1981. Unique observations and new data reduction techniques allow 360{degrees} imaging of the local auroral emissions on both days and a view of spatial and temporal variability. The 1980 aurorae, one nonpulsating and one pulsating, are located in the morning sector. The authors find that the 1980 diffuse, nonpulsating aurora was located < 75 km from the rocket in a northern location with respect to the rocket and was produced by electrons with a characteristic energy of 200-300 eV. The pulsating aurora was located > 75 km in a western location and was produced by electrons with a characteristic energy of 2-3 keV. Both the near (northern) and far (western) aurorae had motion and size characteristics consistent with northeasterly drift rates of 200-500 m s{sup {minus}1} and 30-50 km in size, respectively. The 1981 flight observed a stable arch in the evening sector. The arc was produced by electrons with a characteristic energy of 1-3 keV and had a probable 1/e width of approximately 75 km. For both flights, the 557.7/391.4 and 337.1/391.4 ratios were approximately constant. 24 refs., 8 figs., 1 tab.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 75636
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: A10 Vol. 98; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
AIRGLOW
AURORAE
EMISSION SPECTRA
IMAGES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
TIME DEPENDENCE