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Multiple auroral brightenings and associated Pi 2 pulsations
Author(s) -
Shiokawa K.,
Yumoto K.,
Olson J. V.
Publication year - 2002
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 - 10.1029/2001gl014583
Subject(s) - substorm , physics , magnetic field , astrophysics , alfvén wave , wave packet , latitude , magnetosphere , luminosity , magnetic reconnection , geophysics , magnetohydrodynamics , astronomy , atomic physics , quantum mechanics , galaxy
All‐sky auroral data at Kotzebue (KOT, 64.4° MLAT), Alaska, and magnetic field data from both high‐ and low‐latitude stations are used to demonstrate the relation between multiple auroral brightenings and Pi 2 magnetic pulsations during an isolated substorm. At least five Pi 2 wave packets are identified in the magnetic field data around the end of the growth phase. Auroral luminosity variations do not show oscillations in the Pi 2 frequency range, though each Pi 2 wave packet has good correspondence with each small‐scale auroral brightening and poleward motion. This fact may contradict the idea of high‐latitude Pi 2 generation by oscillations of substorm field‐aligned currents. We discuss possible reasons of this discrepancy from localization of the Pi 2 current system and low‐energy electrons as the current carrier.