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Global X‐ray observations of magnetospheric convection‐driven auroral disturbances
Author(s) -
Anderson P. C.,
McKenzie D. L.,
Lyons L. R.,
Hairston M.
Publication year - 2000
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 - 10.1029/2000gl000074
Subject(s) - substorm , polar cap , convection , geophysics , physics , ionosphere , polar , electron precipitation , electric field , atmospheric sciences , geomagnetic storm , magnetosphere , astrophysics , magnetic field , meteorology , solar wind , astronomy , quantum mechanics
Global observations of the auroral x‐ray emissions during three large magnetic storms in 1998 are presented from the Polar Ionospheric X‐ray Imaging Experiment (PIXIE). The cross‐polar‐cap potential drop (ΔΦ PC ) remained large (>100 kV) throughout most of the stormtime periods, and most of the x‐ray emissions observed were associated with enhanced earthward convection and dawnward drift of electrons caused by substantial cross‐tail electric fields. Large increases in ΔΦ PC drove impulsive disturbances termed convection enhancements that showed signatures inconsistent with substorm activity, including substantial auroral emissions in the morning sector and little activity in the premidnight sector.