Pulsating aurora has been identified in DMSP photographs. Its unique zebra-stripe appearance is due to the interaction of the aurora pulsation period with the imaging device's raster scan period. It most commonly, but not exclusively, occurs on the equatorward edge of the auroral oval after midnight and is positively correlated with global magnetic acitivity. Pulsating aurora also occurs on the poleward leading edge of midnight sector surges. |