Temporal and spatial evolution of auroral electron energy spectra in a region surrounding the magnetic zenith

We present a new method for estimating the spatial and temporal evolution of the auroral electron energy spectrum at subkilometer and subsecond scales using optical and incoherent scatter radar data. This method is applied to an event on 12 December 2006 when a thin auroral arc that exhibits subkilo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of geophysical research. Space physics 2014-03, Vol.119 (3), p.2318-2327
Main Authors: Tuttle, S., Gustavsson, B., Lanchester, B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aurora
Auroras
electron energy
electron precipitation
Electrons
Emissions
Instrumentation
Magnetic fields
Radar
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Summary:We present a new method for estimating the spatial and temporal evolution of the auroral electron energy spectrum at subkilometer and subsecond scales using optical and incoherent scatter radar data. This method is applied to an event on 12 December 2006 when a thin auroral arc that exhibits subkilometer structuring is observed. The energy spectrum and resultant emission rates are estimated for a 10 s period when the arc was in the field of view of the optical instrumentation. Modeled images of the observed aurora are produced using the estimated emission rates and compared with the optical observations of the aurora. We find the modeled images reproduce the structure and dynamics of the observed aurora to within the uncertainties of the models used. The brightness underestimate of about 30% can be explained by the underestimate of the energy flux from the radar measurements. Key Points Electron energy spectra are estimated in a region around the magnetic zenith Emission rates are calculated, and modeled images of aurora are formed Modeled images capture the structure and dynamics of small‐scale aurora
ISSN:2169-9380
2169-9402
DOI:10.1002/2013JA019627