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Polar views of the Earth's aurora with Dynamics Explorer
Author(s) -
Frank L. A.,
Craven J. D.,
Burch J. L.,
Winningham J. D.
Publication year - 1982
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/gl009i009p01001
Subject(s) - polar , photometer , convection , geophysics , physics , polar cap , ionosphere , plasma , conjunction (astronomy) , altitude (triangle) , atmospheric sciences , geology , astronomy , meteorology , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Preliminary examination of the first global auroral images gained with the vacuum‐ultraviolet imaging photometer on board DE 1 reveals a remarkable spatial configuration of auroral luminosities. Frequently the northern auroral oval is bifurcated by a sun‐aligned arc extending from the midday auroral zone to the nighttime sector of the oval. Simultaneous plasma measurements with the low‐altitude DE‐2 spacecraft are used to show that the character of plasmas above the polar arc is similar to those found over the poleward zones of the auroral oval. The spatial distribution of auroral luminosities is suggestive of a two‐cell structure of current systems and convection electric fields over the earth's polar cap and a similar division of the corresponding lobe in the magnetotail.