Global observations of the auroral x-ray emissions during three large magnetic storms in 1998 are presented from the Polar Ionospheric X-ray Imaging Experiment (PIXIE). The cross-polar-cap potential drop (Δ&PHgr;PC) remained large (>100 kV) throughout most of the stormtime periods, and most of the x-ray emissions observed were associated with enhanced earthward convection and dawnward drift of electrons caused by substantial cross-tail electric fields. Large increases in Δ&PHgr;PC drove impulsive disturbances termed convection enhancements that showed signatures inconsistent with substorm activity, including substantial auroral emissions in the morning sector and little activity in the premidnight sector. ¿ 2000 American Geophysical Union