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Nonconjugacy of pulsating auroral patches near L=6
Author(s) -
Sato Natsuo,
Morooka Michiko,
Minatoya Kouichi,
Saemundsson Thorsteinn
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1998gl900002
Subject(s) - asymmetry , electron precipitation , physics , geophysics , conjugate points , ionosphere , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , atmospheric sciences , geology , southern hemisphere , astronomy , magnetic field , geometry , magnetosphere , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Simultaneous TV data of pulsating auroras were obtained at two nearly conjugate stations, Husafell in Iceland and Syowa in Antarctica on September 9–10, 1994. An investigation of the spatial and temporal coherence of pulsating patches revealed the following characteristics: (1) The overall dynamic variations and activities of the pulsating features were very similar at both stations. (2) Most of the individual pulsating patches did not have clear counterparts in the opposite hemisphere. That is, individual pulsating patches appeared to be nonconjugate. (3) Even when the shape and type of pulsating aurora suggested a conjugate‐like relationship, the pulsation periods were clearly different. These interesting results indicate an asymmetry in the generation or precipitation mechanism of the particles producing pulsating auroras. Active ionospheric processes probably play an important role in causing or modifying auroras of this type.