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Dynamics Explorer measurements of particles, fields, and plasma drifts over a horse-collar auroral patternAs shown from ground-based measurements and satellite-borne imagers, one type of global auroral pattern characteristic of quiet (usually northward IMF) intervals is that of a contracted but thickened emission region of a pattern referred to as 'horse-collar' aurora (Hones et al., 1989). In this report we use the Dynamics Explorer data set to examine a case in which this horse-collar pattern was observed by the DE-1 auroral imager, while at the same time DE-2, at lower altitude, measured precipitating particles, electric and magnetic fields, and plasma drifts. Our analysis shows that, in general, there is close agreement between the optical signatures and the particle precipitation patterns. In many instances, over scales ranging from tens to a few hundred kilometers, electron precipitation features and upward field-aligned currents are observed at locations where the plasma flow gradients indicate negative V-average x E. The particle, plasma, and field measurements made along the satellite track and the 2D perspective of the imager provide a means of determining the configuration of convective flows in the high-latitude ionosphere during this interval of northward IMF. Recent mapping studies are used to relate the low-altitude observations to possible magnetospheric source regions.
Document ID
19930071342
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Sharber, J. R.
(Southwest Research Inst. San Antonio, TX, United States)
Hones, E. W., Jr.
(Los Alamos National Lab. NM, United States)
Heelis, R. A.
(Univ. of Texas at Dallas Richardson, United States)
Craven, J. D.
(Alaska Univ. Fairbanks, United States)
Frank, L. A.
(Iowa Univ. Iowa City, United States)
Maynard, N. C.
(USAF, Phillips Lab. Hanscom AFB, MA, United States)
Slavin, J. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Birn, J.
(Los Alamos National Lab. NM, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity
ISSN: 0022-1392
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
93A55339
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-1553
CONTRACT_GRANT: F19628-90-K-0001
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-305
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-483
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-306
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-2735
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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