Statistical Study of Auroral/Resonant‐Scattering 427.8‐nm Emission Observed at Subauroral Latitudes Over 14 Years

Auroral emission at 427.8‐nm from N 2 + ions is caused by precipitation of energetic electrons, or by resonant scattering of sunlight by auroral N 2 + ions. The latter often causes impressive purple aurora at high altitudes. However, statistical characteristics of auroral 427.8‐nm emission have not been well studied. In this paper we report occurrence characteristics of high 427.8‐nm emission intensities (more than 100 R) at subauroral latitudes, based on measurements by a filter‐tilting photometer over 14 years (2005–2018) at Athabasca, Canada (magnetic latitude: ~62°). We divided the data set into solar elevation angles ( θ s ) more than and less than −24° (shadow height of sunlight: 600 km) to separate the 427.8‐nm emissions caused by resonant scattering of sunlight and those excited by auroral electrons, respectively. The occurrence rate of 427.8‐nm emissions of more than 100 R is 10.6% and 7.65% for θ s more than and less than −24°, respectively, confirming that resonant scattering of sunlight by N 2 + ions is a cause of the strong 427.8‐nm emissions of more than 100 R in the sunlit ionosphere. The occurrence rate is high in the postmidnight sector and increases with increasing geomagnetic activity, solar wind speed, and density. The occurrence rate is lowest in winter. A high occurrence rate was observed in 2015–2018, during the declining phase of the 11‐year solar activity. Superposed epoch analysis indicates that the 427.8‐nm emission exceeds 100 R when solar wind speed increases and solar wind density concurrently decreases, though the standard deviation of the data is rather large.