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Zhang et al. 2005
Zhang, Y., Paxton, L.J., Morrison, D., Lui, A.T.Y., Kil, H., Wolven, B., Meng, C.-I. and Christensen, A.B. (2005). Undulations on the equatorward edge of the diffuse proton aurora: TIMED/GUVI observations. Journal of Geophysical Research 110: doi: 10.1029/2004JA010668. issn: 0148-0227.

Undulations on the equatorward edge of the diffuse proton aurora have been identified by using TIMED/GUVI auroral images in the far ultraviolet wavelengths. While undulations have been previously reported on the duskside (Lui et al., 1982), GUVI observations show the undulation also occurs in the dayside, nightside, and morningside. The GUVI proton auroral images provide direct optical evidence that the undulations occur in the proton aurora. It is also the first detection of the undulation in the dayside indicating strong convection shear in the region. The undulation in the nightside, a wavy structure in the whole diffuse proton aurora, is significantly different from those in the duskside and dayside. While almost all of the undulation events are observed during magnetic storms (Dst 1000 m/s) and strong velocity shear (>0.1 s-1) within the diffuse aurora oval are necessary conditions for the undulation to occur. The SSIES data also indicate the areas with large ion drift velocity and shear move to higher latitudes in the MLT sectors toward midnight. This may explain why the undulation is rarely detected in the nightside.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Auroral phenomena, Magnetospheric Physics, Plasma convection, Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetic storms and substorms, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Airglow and aurora, Ionosphere, Plasma convection, auroral undulation, K-H instability, plasma convection, magnetic storm
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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