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Association of Energetic Neutral Atom Bursts and Magnetospheric SubstormsIn this paper we present evidence that short-lived bursts of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) observed with the Comprehensive Energetic Particle and Pitch Angle Distribution/Imaging Proton Spectrometer (CEPPAD/IPS) instrument on the Polar spacecraft are signatures of substorms. The IPS was designed primarily to measure ions in situ, with energies between 17.5 and 1500 keV. However, it has also proven to be a very capable ENA imager in the range 17.5 keV to a couple hundred keV. It was expected that some ENA signatures of the storm time ring current would be observed. Interestingly, IPS also routinely measures weaker, shorter-lived, and more spatially confined bursts of ENAs with duration from a few tens of minutes to a few hours and appearing once or twice a day. One of these bursts was quickly associated with magnetospheric and auroral substorm activity and has been reported in the literature [Henderson et al., 19971. In this paper we characterize ENA bursts observed from Polar and establish statistically their association with classic substorm signatures (global auroral onsets, electron and ion injections, AL drops, and Pi2 onsets). We conclude that -90% of the observed ENA bursts are associated with classic substorms and thus represent a new type of substorm signature.
Document ID
20010047012
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Jorgensen, A. M.
(Los Alamos National Lab. NM United States)
Kepko, L.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA United States)
Henderson, M. G.
(Los Alamos National Lab. NM United States)
Spence, H. E.
(Boston Univ. Boston, MA United States)
Reeves, G. D.
(Los Alamos National Lab. NM United States)
Sigwarth, J. B.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA United States)
Frank, L. A.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, IA United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 2000
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 105
Issue: A8
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
Paper-1999JA000445
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-7712
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-7706
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-8039
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-93-14239
OTHER: UCRP-708
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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