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Detailed Reference Information
Engebretson et al. 1983
Engebretson, M.J., Cahill, L.J., Arnoldy, R.L., Mende, S.B. and Rosenberg, T.J. (1983). Correlated irregular magnetic pulsations and optical emissions observed at Siple Station, Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research 88: doi: 10.1029/JA088iA06p04841. issn: 0148-0227.

Pi 1 magnetic pulsations observed at Siple Station, Antarctica, contain an unusual class of fluctuations. They are large amplitude, 0.2--1 nT/s, one-sided pulsations in dB/dt with variable direction. The pulsations are from 2 to 10 s wide and occur in an irregular train of pulses that lasts, sporadically, up to an hour. An earlier study (Arnoldy et al., 1982) reported that in 1979 data these pulses are often closely associated with riometer and auroral pulsations. The present report extends this work by using 1980 data and describes the variety in observation of these pulsations. The pulsations are observed from 2200 local time until noon with most frequent occurrence near dawn. They usually occur during or shortly after a burst of high amplitude pulsation activity within a long duration (several hours) interval of large or moderate amplitude Pi. Although the direction of the pulsations is typically west or southwest other directions are also observed, with occasionally a shift of direction (for example, from north to south) occuring in a few minutes. We interpret these Pi 1 pulsations to be the result of local enhancements in ionospheric and field-aligned currents associated with precipitating electrons responsible for the associated pulsations in auroral luminosity. No evidence was found for a sinusoidal component of these magnetic pulsations, travelling as a wave in the magnetosphere.

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Abstract

Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
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American Geophysical Union
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