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Generation of auroral Omega bands by shear instability of the neutral windsThermospheric neutral wind acceleration via ion drag in the conducting E-region of the ionosphere is greatly increased by electron precipitation associated with auroras. This increased acceleration can lead to the development of significant horizontal wind shears, which were found to be unstable to the Kelvin-Helmholtz shear instability. Numerical simulation of the neutral response to an intense, postmidnight, diffuse aurora shows tne formation of an E-region 'jet stream' within the aurora, with peak winds speeds greather than 700 m/s after one hour. It is proposed that this jet stream produces unstable Kelvin-Helmholtz waves, which can drive waves of discrete aurora along the poleward boundary of the preexisting diffuse aurora. It is suggested that such auroral waves, driven by the neutral winds, form eastward propagating waves (omega bands) occasionally observed along the poleward boundary of postmidnight diffuse auroras. It was found that neutral wind shears that develop in response to discrete auroral arcs are unstable; however, the resulting wind waves are not expected to drive significant auroral waves along discrete arcs.
Document ID
19860039668
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Lyons, L. R.
(Aerospace Corp. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Walterscheid, R. L.
(Aerospace Corp. Space Sciences Laboratory, Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 90
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
86A24406
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASW-3839
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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