Articles | Volume 39, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-975-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-975-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Fine-scale dynamics of fragmented aurora-like emissions
Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
Hanna Sundberg
Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Stockholm, Sweden
Betty S. Lanchester
Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
Joshua Dreyer
Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), Uppsala, Sweden
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Noora Partamies
University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, Norway
Birkeland Centre for Space Science, Bergen, Norway
Nickolay Ivchenko
School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden
Marco Zaccaria Di Fraia
citizen scientist
Rosie Oliver
citizen scientist
Amanda Serpell-Stevens
citizen scientist
Tiffany Shaw-Diaz
citizen scientist
Thomas Braunersreuther
citizen scientist
Related authors
Noora Partamies, Rowan Dayton-Oxland, Katie Herlingshaw, Ilkka Virtanen, Bea Gallardo-Lacourt, Mikko Syrjäsuo, Fred Sigernes, Takanori Nishiyama, Toshi Nishimura, Mathieu Barthelemy, Anasuya Aruliah, Daniel Whiter, Lena Mielke, Maxime Grandin, Eero Karvinen, Marjan Spijkers, and Vincent E. Ledvina
Ann. Geophys., 43, 349–367, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-43-349-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-43-349-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We studied the first broad band emissions, called continuum, in the dayside aurora. They are similar to Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE) with white-, pale-pink-, or mauve-coloured light. But unlike STEVE, they follow the dayside aurora forming rays and other dynamic shapes. We used ground optical and radar observations and found evidence of heating and upwelling of both plasma and neutral air. This study provides new information on conditions for continuum emission, but its understanding will require further work.
Rowan Dayton-Oxland, Daniel K. Whiter, Hyomin Kim, and Betty Lanchester
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.22541/essoar.172641540.02035523/v1, https://doi.org/10.22541/essoar.172641540.02035523/v1, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
It is typically thought that the protons which precipitate down from space to cause proton aurora are accelerated by a type of plasma wave called an EMIC wave. In this study we use ground-based observations of proton aurora and Pc1 waves (the ground signature of EMIC waves) to test whether this mechanism occurs in the high Arctic over Svalbard, on the Earth's day side. We did not find any link between the proton aurora and Pc1 pulsations, contrary to our expectations.
Anton Goertz, Noora Partamies, Daniel Whiter, and Lisa Baddeley
Ann. Geophys., 41, 115–128, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-115-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-115-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Poleward moving auroral forms (PMAFs) are specific types of aurora believed to be the signature of the connection of Earth's magnetic field to that of the sun. In this paper, we discuss the evolution of PMAFs with regard to their auroral morphology as observed in all-sky camera images. We interpret different aspects of this evolution in terms of the connection dynamics between the magnetic fields of Earth and the sun. This sheds more light on the magnetic interaction between the sun and Earth.
Daniel K. Whiter, Noora Partamies, Björn Gustavsson, and Kirsti Kauristie
Ann. Geophys., 41, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-1-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-1-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We measured the height of green and blue aurorae using thousands of camera images recorded over a 7-year period. Both colours are typically brightest at about 114 km altitude. When they peak at higher altitudes the blue aurora is usually higher than the green aurora. This information will help other studies which need an estimate of the auroral height. We used a computer model to explain our observations and to investigate how the green aurora is produced.
Noora Partamies, Daniel Whiter, Kirsti Kauristie, and Stefano Massetti
Ann. Geophys., 40, 605–618, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-605-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-605-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the local time behaviour of auroral structures and emission height. Data are collected from the Fennoscandian Lapland and Svalbard latitutes from 7 identical auroral all-sky cameras over about 1 solar cycle. The typical peak emission height of the green aurora varies from 110 km on the nightside to about 118 km in the morning over Lapland but stays systematically higher over Svalbard. During fast solar wind, nightside emission heights are 5 km lower than during slow solar wind.
Fasil Tesema, Noora Partamies, Daniel K. Whiter, and Yasunobu Ogawa
Ann. Geophys., 40, 1–10, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-1-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-1-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we present the comparison between an auroral model and EISCAT radar electron densities during pulsating aurorae. We test whether an overpassing satellite measurement of the average energy spectrum is a reasonable estimate for pulsating aurora electron precipitation. When patchy pulsating aurora is dominant in the morning sector, the overpass-averaged spectrum is found to be a reasonable estimate – but not when there is a mix of pulsating aurora types in the post-midnight sector.
Joshua Dreyer, Noora Partamies, Daniel Whiter, Pål G. Ellingsen, Lisa Baddeley, and Stephan C. Buchert
Ann. Geophys., 39, 277–288, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-277-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-277-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Small-scale auroral features are still being discovered and are not well understood. Where aurorae are caused by particle precipitation, the newly reported fragmented aurora-like emissions (FAEs) seem to be locally generated in the ionosphere (hence,
aurora-like). We analyse data from multiple instruments located near Longyearbyen to derive their main characteristics. They seem to occur as two types in a narrow altitude region (individually or in regularly spaced groups).
Noora Partamies, Rowan Dayton-Oxland, Katie Herlingshaw, Ilkka Virtanen, Bea Gallardo-Lacourt, Mikko Syrjäsuo, Fred Sigernes, Takanori Nishiyama, Toshi Nishimura, Mathieu Barthelemy, Anasuya Aruliah, Daniel Whiter, Lena Mielke, Maxime Grandin, Eero Karvinen, Marjan Spijkers, and Vincent E. Ledvina
Ann. Geophys., 43, 349–367, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-43-349-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-43-349-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We studied the first broad band emissions, called continuum, in the dayside aurora. They are similar to Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE) with white-, pale-pink-, or mauve-coloured light. But unlike STEVE, they follow the dayside aurora forming rays and other dynamic shapes. We used ground optical and radar observations and found evidence of heating and upwelling of both plasma and neutral air. This study provides new information on conditions for continuum emission, but its understanding will require further work.
Judit Pérez-Coll Jiménez, Nickolay Ivchenko, Ceona Lindstein, Lukas Krasauskas, Jonas Hedin, Donal Patrick Murtagh, Linda Megner, Björn Linder, and Jörg Gumbel
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2324, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2324, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study uses images taken by the Swedish satellite MATS to conduct a statistical analysis of the molecular oxygen atmospheric band emissions in the aurora. This auroral emission can not be observed from the ground, making it one of the least understood auroral emissions. Our results provide a new dataset with information on the peak altitude, geomagnetic location, and auroral intensity of 378 events detected between February and April 2023.
Liisa Juusola, Ilkka Virtanen, Spencer Mark Hatch, Heikki Vanhamäki, Maxime Grandin, Noora Partamies, Urs Ganse, Ilja Honkonen, Abiyot Workayehu, Antti Kero, and Minna Palmroth
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2394, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2394, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Key properties of the ionospheric electrodynamics are electric fields, currents, and conductances. They provide a window to the vast and distant near-Earth space, cause Joule heating that affect satellite orbits, and drive geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in technological conductor networks. We have developed a new method for solving the key properties of ionospheric electrodynamics from ground-based magnetic field observations.
Björn Linder, Jörg Gumbel, Donal P. Murtagh, Linda Megner, Lukas Krasauskas, Doug Degenstein, Ole Martin Christensen, and Nickolay Ivchenko
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-493, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-493, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, the primary instrument carried by the satellite MATS is compared to the OSIRIS instrument onboard the Odin satellite. A total of 36 close approaches between December 2022 and February 2023 were identified and analysed. The comparison reveals that the two instruments have good structural agreement and that MATS detects a signal that is ~20 % stronger than what is measured by OSIRIS.
Linda Megner, Jörg Gumbel, Ole Martin Christensen, Björn Linder, Donal Patrick Murtagh, Nickolay Ivchenko, Lukas Krasauskas, Jonas Hedin, Joachim Dillner, Gabriel Giono, Georgi Olentsenko, Louis Kern, and Jacek Stegman
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-265, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-265, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The MATS satellite mission studies atmospheric gravity waves, crucial for momentum transport between atmospheric layers. Launched in November 2022, MATS uses a limb-viewing telescope to capture high-resolution images of Noctilucent clouds and airglow, visualizing wave patterns in the high atmosphere. This paper accompanies the public release of the level 1b data set, i.e. calibrated limb images. Later products will provide global maps of gravity wave properties, airglow and Noctilucent clouds.
Rowan Dayton-Oxland, Daniel K. Whiter, Hyomin Kim, and Betty Lanchester
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.22541/essoar.172641540.02035523/v1, https://doi.org/10.22541/essoar.172641540.02035523/v1, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
It is typically thought that the protons which precipitate down from space to cause proton aurora are accelerated by a type of plasma wave called an EMIC wave. In this study we use ground-based observations of proton aurora and Pc1 waves (the ground signature of EMIC waves) to test whether this mechanism occurs in the high Arctic over Svalbard, on the Earth's day side. We did not find any link between the proton aurora and Pc1 pulsations, contrary to our expectations.
Liisa Juusola, Ari Viljanen, Noora Partamies, Heikki Vanhamäki, Mirjam Kellinsalmi, and Simon Walker
Ann. Geophys., 41, 483–510, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-483-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-483-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
At times when auroras erupt on the sky, the magnetic field surrounding the Earth undergoes rapid changes. On the ground, these changes can induce harmful electric currents in technological conductor networks, such as powerlines. We have used magnetic field observations from northern Europe during 28 such events and found consistent behavior that can help to understand, and thus predict, the processes that drive auroras and geomagnetically induced currents.
Anton Goertz, Noora Partamies, Daniel Whiter, and Lisa Baddeley
Ann. Geophys., 41, 115–128, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-115-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-115-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Poleward moving auroral forms (PMAFs) are specific types of aurora believed to be the signature of the connection of Earth's magnetic field to that of the sun. In this paper, we discuss the evolution of PMAFs with regard to their auroral morphology as observed in all-sky camera images. We interpret different aspects of this evolution in terms of the connection dynamics between the magnetic fields of Earth and the sun. This sheds more light on the magnetic interaction between the sun and Earth.
Daniel K. Whiter, Noora Partamies, Björn Gustavsson, and Kirsti Kauristie
Ann. Geophys., 41, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-1-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-1-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We measured the height of green and blue aurorae using thousands of camera images recorded over a 7-year period. Both colours are typically brightest at about 114 km altitude. When they peak at higher altitudes the blue aurora is usually higher than the green aurora. This information will help other studies which need an estimate of the auroral height. We used a computer model to explain our observations and to investigate how the green aurora is produced.
Noora Partamies, Daniel Whiter, Kirsti Kauristie, and Stefano Massetti
Ann. Geophys., 40, 605–618, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-605-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-605-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the local time behaviour of auroral structures and emission height. Data are collected from the Fennoscandian Lapland and Svalbard latitutes from 7 identical auroral all-sky cameras over about 1 solar cycle. The typical peak emission height of the green aurora varies from 110 km on the nightside to about 118 km in the morning over Lapland but stays systematically higher over Svalbard. During fast solar wind, nightside emission heights are 5 km lower than during slow solar wind.
Derek McKay, Juha Vierinen, Antti Kero, and Noora Partamies
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 11, 25–35, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-11-25-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-11-25-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
When radio waves from our galaxy enter the Earth's atmosphere, they are absorbed by electrons in the upper atmosphere. It was thought that by measuring the amount of absorption, it would allow the height of these electrons in the atmosphere to be determined. If so, this would have significance for future instrument design. However, this paper demonstrates that it is not possible to do this, but it does explain how multiple-frequency measurements can nevertheless be useful.
Fasil Tesema, Noora Partamies, Daniel K. Whiter, and Yasunobu Ogawa
Ann. Geophys., 40, 1–10, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-1-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-1-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we present the comparison between an auroral model and EISCAT radar electron densities during pulsating aurorae. We test whether an overpassing satellite measurement of the average energy spectrum is a reasonable estimate for pulsating aurora electron precipitation. When patchy pulsating aurora is dominant in the morning sector, the overpass-averaged spectrum is found to be a reasonable estimate – but not when there is a mix of pulsating aurora types in the post-midnight sector.
Florine Enengl, Noora Partamies, Nickolay Ivchenko, and Lisa Baddeley
Ann. Geophys., 39, 795–809, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-795-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-795-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Energetic particle precipitation has the potential to change the neutral atmospheric temperature at the bottom of the ionosphere. We have searched for events and investigated a possible correlation between lower-ionosphere electron density enhancements and simultaneous neutral temperature changes. Six of the 10 analysed events are associated with a temperature decrease of 10–20K. The events change the chemical composition in the mesosphere, and the temperatures are probed at lower altitudes.
Joshua Dreyer, Noora Partamies, Daniel Whiter, Pål G. Ellingsen, Lisa Baddeley, and Stephan C. Buchert
Ann. Geophys., 39, 277–288, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-277-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-277-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Small-scale auroral features are still being discovered and are not well understood. Where aurorae are caused by particle precipitation, the newly reported fragmented aurora-like emissions (FAEs) seem to be locally generated in the ionosphere (hence,
aurora-like). We analyse data from multiple instruments located near Longyearbyen to derive their main characteristics. They seem to occur as two types in a narrow altitude region (individually or in regularly spaced groups).
Minna Palmroth, Maxime Grandin, Theodoros Sarris, Eelco Doornbos, Stelios Tourgaidis, Anita Aikio, Stephan Buchert, Mark A. Clilverd, Iannis Dandouras, Roderick Heelis, Alex Hoffmann, Nickolay Ivchenko, Guram Kervalishvili, David J. Knudsen, Anna Kotova, Han-Li Liu, David M. Malaspina, Günther March, Aurélie Marchaudon, Octav Marghitu, Tomoko Matsuo, Wojciech J. Miloch, Therese Moretto-Jørgensen, Dimitris Mpaloukidis, Nils Olsen, Konstantinos Papadakis, Robert Pfaff, Panagiotis Pirnaris, Christian Siemes, Claudia Stolle, Jonas Suni, Jose van den IJssel, Pekka T. Verronen, Pieter Visser, and Masatoshi Yamauchi
Ann. Geophys., 39, 189–237, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-189-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-189-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This is a review paper that summarises the current understanding of the lower thermosphere–ionosphere (LTI) in terms of measurements and modelling. The LTI is the transition region between space and the atmosphere and as such of tremendous importance to both the domains of space and atmosphere. The paper also serves as the background for European Space Agency Earth Explorer 10 candidate mission Daedalus.
Cited articles
Aikio, A. T., Opgenoorth, H. J., Persson, M. A. L., and Kaila, K. U.:
Ground-based measurements of an arc-associated electric field, J. Atmos.
Terr. Phys., 55, 797–808, https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9169(93)90021-P, 1993. a
Archer, W. E., Gallardo-Lacourt, B., Perry, G. W., St.-Maurice, J. P., Buchert,
S. C., and Donovan, E.: Steve: The Optical Signature of Intense Subauroral
Ion Drifts, Geophys. Res. Lett., 46, 6279–6286, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082687,
2019. a
Ashrafi, M., Lanchester, B. S., Lummerzheim, D., Ivchenko, N., and Jokiaho, O.: Modelling of N21P emission rates in aurora using various cross sections for excitation, Ann. Geophys., 27, 2545–2553, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-27-2545-2009, 2009. a
Bahcivan, H.: Plasma wave heating during extreme electric fields in the
high-latitude E region, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L15106, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006GL029236,
2006. a
Buchert, S. C., Tsuda, T., Fujii, R., and Nozawa, S.: The Pedersen current carried by electrons: a non-linear response of the ionosphere to magnetospheric forcing, Ann. Geophys., 26, 2837–2844, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-26-2837-2008, 2008. a, b
Carlson, H. C., Oksavik, K., and Moen, J. I.: Thermally excited 630.0 nm
O(1D) emission in the cusp: A frequent high-altitude transient signature,
J. Geophys. Res., 118, 5842–5852, https://doi.org/10.1002/jgra.50516, 2013. a
Codrescu, M. V., Fuller-Rowell, T. J., and Foster, J. C.: On the importance of
E-field variability for Joule heating in the high-latitude thermosphere,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 22, 2393–2396, https://doi.org/10.1029/95GL01909, 1995. a
Dahlgren, H., Gustavsson, B., Lanchester, B. S., Ivchenko, N., Brändström, U., Whiter, D. K., Sergienko, T., Sandahl, I., and Marklund, G.: Energy and flux variations across thin auroral arcs, Ann. Geophys., 29, 1699–1712, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-29-1699-2011, 2011. a
Dahlgren, H., Ivchenko, N., and Lanchester, B. S.: Monoenergetic high-energy
electron precipitation in thin auroral filaments, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39,
L20101, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL053466, 2012. a
D'Angelo, N.: Type III spectra of the radar aurora, J. Geophys. Res., 78,
3987–3990, https://doi.org/10.1029/JA078i019p03987, 1973. a
EISCAT Scientific Association: Madrigal Database at EISCAT, available at: http://portal.eiscat.se/madrigal/, last access: 17 November 2021. a
Erdman, P. W. and Zipf, E. C.: Excitation of the OI
(3s5S0–3p5P; λ7774 Å) multiplet by electron impact on
O2, J. Chem. Phys., 87, 4540, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.453696, 1987. a
Fejer, B. G., Reed, R. W., Farley, D. T., Swartz, W. E., and Kelley, M. C.: Ion
cyclotron waves as a possible source of resonant auroral radar echoes, J.
Geophys. Res., 89, 187–194, https://doi.org/10.1029/JA089iA01p00187, 1984. a
Gallardo-Lacourt, B., Liang, J., Nishimura, Y., and Donovan, E.: On the Origin
of STEVE: Particle Precipitation or Ionospheric Skyglow?, Geophys. Res.
Lett., 45, 7968–7973, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL078509, 2018. a
Gillies, D. M., Donovan, E., Hampton, D., Liang, J., Connors, M., Nishimura,
Y., Gallardo-Lacourt, B., and Spanswick, E.: First Observations From the
TREx Spectrograph: The Optical Spectrum of STEVE and the Picket Fence
Phenomena, Geophys. Res. Lett., 46, 7207–7213, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL083272,
2019. a, b
Hedin, A. E.: Extension of the MSIS thermosphere model into the middle and
lower atmosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 96, 1159–1172, https://doi.org/10.1029/90JA02125,
1991. a, b
Itikawa, Y.: Cross sections for electron collisions with nitrogen molecules, J.
Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 35, 31–53, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1937426, 2005. a
Ivchenko, N., Blixt, E. M., and Lanchester, B. S.: Multispectral observations
of auroral rays and curls, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L18106,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL022650, 2005. a
Julienne, P. S. and Davis, J.: Cascade and Radiation Trapping Effects on
Atmospheric Atomic Oxygen Emission Excited by Electron Impact, J. Geophys.
Res., 81, 1397–1403, https://doi.org/10.1029/JA081i007p01397, 1976. a
Kirkwood, S. and Nilsson, H.: High-latitude sporadic-E and other thin layers
– the role of magnetospheric electric fields, Space Sci. Rev., 91, 579–613,
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005241931650, 2000. a
Kwagala, N. K., Oksavik, K., Lorentzen, D. A., and Johnsen, M. G.: How Often Do
Thermally Excited 630.0 nm Emissions Occur in the Polar Ionosphere?, J.
Geophys. Res., 123, 698–710, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JA024744, 2017. a
Lanchester, B. and Gustavsson, B.: Imaging of Aurora to Estimate the Energy and
Flux of Electron Precipitation, vol. 197 of Geophysical Monograph
Series, 171–182, American Geophysical Union (AGU),
https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GM001161, 2012. a
Lanchester, B. S., Kaila, K., and McCrea, I. W.: Relationship between large
horizontal electric fields and auroral arc elements, J. Geophys. Res., 101,
5075–5084, https://doi.org/10.1029/95JA02055, 1996. a, b
Lanchester, B. S., Rees, M. H., Lummerzheim, D., Otto, A.,
Sedgemore-Schulthess, K. J. F., Zhu, H., and McCrea, I. W.: Ohmic heating as
evidence for strong field-aligned currents in filamentary aurora, J. Geophys.
Res., 106, 1785–1794, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JA000292, 2001. a, b
Lanchester, B. S., Ashrafi, M., and Ivchenko, N.: Simultaneous imaging of aurora on small scale in OI (777.4 nm) and N21P to estimate energy and flux of precipitation, Ann. Geophys., 27, 2881–2891, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-27-2881-2009, 2009. a, b, c
Litt, S. K., Smolyakov, A. I., Hassan, E., and Horton, W.: Ion thermal and
dispersion effects in Farley-Buneman instabilities, Phys. Plasmas,
22, 082112, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4928387, 2015. a, b
Lummerzheim, D. and Lilensten, J.: Electron transport and energy degradation in the ionosphere: evaluation of the numerical solution, comparison with laboratory experiments and auroral observations, Ann. Geophys., 12, 1039–1051, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00585-994-1039-7, 1994. a
MacDonald, E. A., Donovan, E., Nishimura, Y., Case, N. A., Gillies, D. M.,
Gallardo-Lacourt, B., Archer, W. E., Spanswick, E. L., Bourassa, N., Connors,
M., Heavner, M., Jackel, B., Kosar, B., Knudsen, D. J., Ratzlaff, C., and
Schofield, I.: New science in plain sight: Citizen scientists lead to the
discovery of optical structure in the upper atmosphere, Sci. Adv., 4,
eaaq0030, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaq0030, 2018. a
Marklund, G., Blomberg, L., Fälthammar, C.-G., and Lindqvist, P.-A.: On
intense diverging electric fields associated with black aurora, Geophys. Res.
Lett., 21, 1859–1862, https://doi.org/10.1029/94GL00194, 1994. a
Mende, S. B., Harding, B. J., and Turner, C.: Subauroral Green STEVE Arcs:
Evidence for Low-Energy Excitation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 46,
14256–14262, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL086145, 2019. a
Nygrén, T., Jalonen, L., Oksman, J., and Turunen, T.: The role of electric
field and neutral wind direction in the formation of sporadic E-layers, J.
Atmos. Terr. Phys., 46, 373–381, https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9169(84)90122-3, 1984. a
Opgenoorth, H. J., Hägström, I., Williams, P. J. S., and Jones, G.
O. L.: Regions of strongly enhanced perpendicular electric fields adjacent to
auroral arcs, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 52, 449–458,
https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9169(90)90044-N, 1990. a
Palmroth, M., Grandin, M., Helin, M., Koski, P., Oksanen, A., Glad, M. A.,
Valonen, R., Saari, K., Bruus, E., Norberg, J., Viljanen, A., Kauristie, K.,
and Verronen, P. T.: Citizen Scientists Discover a New Auroral Form: Dunes
Provide Insight Into the Upper Atmosphere, AGU Advances, 1,
e2019AV000133, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019AV000133, 2020. a
Price, D. J., Whiter, D. K., Chadney, J. M., and Lanchester, B. S.: High
resolution optical observations of neutral heating associated with the
electrodynamics of an auroral arc, J. Geophys. Res., 124, 9577–9591,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JA027345, 2019. a, b, c
Prikryl, P., Koehler, J. A., Sofko, G. J., McEwen, D. J., and Steele, D.:
Ionospheric ion cyclotron wave generation inferred from coordinated doppler
radar, optical, and magnetic observations, J. Geophys. Res., 92, 3315–3331,
https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA04p03315, 1987. a
Robinson, T. R. and Honary, F.: Adiabatic and isothermal ion-acoustic speeds of
stabilized Farley-Buneman waves in the auroral E-region, J. Atmos.
Terr. Phys., 55, 65–77, https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9169(93)90155-R, 1993. a, b
Sahr, J. D., Farley, D. T., Swartz, W. E., and Providakes, J. F.: The altitude
of type 3 auroral irregularities: Radar interferometer observations and
implications, J. Geophys. Res., 96, 17805–17811,
https://doi.org/10.1029/91JA01544, 1991. a
Saito, S., Buchert, S. C., Nozawa, S., and Fujii, R.: Observation of isotropic electron temperature in the turbulent E region, Ann. Geophys., 19, 11–15, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-19-11-2001, 2001. a, b
Schlatter, N. M., Ivchenko, N., Sergienko, T., Gustavsson, B., and Brändström, B. U. E.: Enhanced EISCAT UHF backscatter during high-energy auroral electron precipitation, Ann. Geophys., 31, 1681–1687, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1681-2013, 2013. a
Schunk, R. W. and Nagy, A. F.: Ionospheres, Atmospheric and Space Science
Series, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2000. a
Semeter, J., Hunnekuhl, M., MacDonald, E., Hirsch, M., Zeller, N., Chernenkoff,
A., and Wang, J.: The Mysterious Green Streaks Below STEVE, AGU Advances,
1, e2020AV000183, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020AV000183, 2020. a, b, c
Tuttle, S., Lanchester, B., Gustavsson, B., Whiter, D., Ivchenko, N., Fear, R., and Lester, M.: Horizontal electric fields from flow of auroral O+(2P) ions at sub-second temporal resolution, Ann. Geophys., 38, 845–859, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-845-2020, 2020. a, b
Whiter, D. K.: Dataset for Fine Scale Dynamics of Fragmented Aurora-Like
Emission, University of Southampton [data set], https://doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/D1928,
2021a. a
Whiter, D. K.: Auroral Structure and Kinetics (ASK) video observations
of Fragmented Aurora-like Emissions (FAEs), 2013/12/04 19:04 UT,
University of Southampton [data set], https://doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/D1930, 2021b. a
Whiter, D. K.: Auroral Structure and Kinetics (ASK) video observations
of Fragmented Aurora-like Emissions (FAEs), 2014/12/22 06:27 UT,
University of Southampton [data set], https://doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/D1929, 2021c. a
Whiter, D. K., Lanchester, B. S., Gustavsson, B., Ivchenko, N., and Dahlgren,
H.: Using multispectral optical observations to identify the acceleration
mechanism responsible for flickering aurora, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A12315,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JA015805, 2010.
a
Zhu, H., Otto, A., Lummerzheim, D., Rees, M. H., and Lanchester, B. S.:
Ionosphere-magnetosphere simulation of small-scale structure and dynamics, J.
Geophys. Res., 106, 1795–1806, https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JA000291, 2001. a
Short summary
This paper presents an analysis of high-resolution optical and radar observations of a phenomenon called fragmented aurora-like emissions (FAEs) observed close to aurora in the high Arctic. The observations suggest that FAEs are not caused by high-energy electrons or protons entering the atmosphere along Earth's magnetic field and are, therefore, not aurora. The speeds of the FAEs and their internal dynamics were measured and used to evaluate theories for how the FAEs are produced.
This paper presents an analysis of high-resolution optical and radar observations of a...