FastFind »   Lastname: doi:10.1029/ Year: Advanced Search  

AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Space Physics

 

Keywords

  • flickering aurora

Index Terms

  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Airglow and aurora
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Auroral phenomena
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Energetic particles: precipitating
  • Ionosphere: Particle acceleration
  • Ionosphere: Ionosphere/magnetosphere interactions
Abstract
Cited By (0)
 

Abstract

Optical observations of flickering aurora and its spatiotemporal characteristics

B. Gustavsson

Department of Physics and Technology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

J. Lunde

Department of Physics and Technology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

E. M. Blixt

Department of Physics and Technology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

Flickering aurora is characterized by optical emissions varying in intensity with frequencies typically between 5 and 15 Hz. In this report we use high-speed narrow field-of-view imaging in white light to determine the intensity variation and the apparent motion of the flickering spots. The characteristic patterns we find are compared with the spatial patterns derived from interference between electromagnetic ion-cyclotron waves. It is found that good agreement is reached, which we argue should make a strong rejection criterion for theories of flickering aurora.

Received 19 June 2008; accepted 27 October 2008; published 31 December 2008.

Citation: Gustavsson, B., J. Lunde, and E. M. Blixt (2008), Optical observations of flickering aurora and its spatiotemporal characteristics, J. Geophys. Res., 113, A12317, doi:10.1029/2008JA013515.

Cited By

Please wait one moment ...