Open AccessAuroral Infrasonic Waves and Poleward Expansions of Auroral Substorms at Inuvik, N.W.T., Canada
Author(s) -
Wilson Charles R.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1971.tb03391.x
Subject(s) - electrojet , geophysics , infrasound , equator , amplitude , supersonic speed , ionosphere , physics , geology , latitude , atmospheric sciences , geodesy , mechanics , magnetic field , earth's magnetic field , quantum mechanics , acoustics
Summary Observations at Inuvik (70.4° dipole latitude) have shown that supersonic motions of auroral arcs that sweep across the zenith from south to north during poleward expansions of auroral substorms do not generate observable auroral infrasonic waves. This is in contrast to the fact that equator‐ward supersonic motions of similar auroral arcs do produce large amplitude infrasonic bow waves. These results imply an asymmetry in the basic generation mechanism of infrasound within the auroral electrojet arcs.