NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Global Auroral Energy Deposition Derived from Polar UVI ImagesQuantitative measurement of the transfer of energy and momentum to the ionosphere from the solar wind is one of the main objectives of the ISTP program. Global measurement of auroral energy deposition derived from observations of the longer wavelength LBH band emissions made by the Ultraviolet Imager on the Polar spacecraft is one of the key elements in this satellite and ground-based instrument campaign. These "measurements" are inferred by combining information from consecutive images using different filters and have a time resolution on the average of three minutes and are made continuously over a 5 to 8 hour period during each 18 hour orbit of the Polar spacecraft. The energy deposition in the ionosphere from auroral electron precipitation augments are due to Joule heating associated with field aligned currents. Assuming conjugacy of energy deposition between the two hemispheres the total energy input to the ionosphere through electron precipitation can be determined at high time resolution. Previously, precipitating particle measurements along the tracks of low altitude satellites provided only local measurements and the global energy precipitation could be inferred through models but not directly measured. We use the UVI images for the entire month of January 1997 to estimate the global energy deposition at high time resolution. We also sort the energy deposition into sectors to find possible trends, for example, on the dayside and nightside, or the dawn and dusk sides.
Document ID
19980227500
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Fillingim, M. O.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Brittnacher, M. J.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Elsen, R.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Parks, G. K.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Spann, J. F., Jr.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Germany, G. A.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
August 18, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1997
Subject Category
Geophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Fall Meeting
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 8, 1997
End Date: December 12, 1997
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available