Conference proceeding
Current Closure in the Auroral Ionosphere: Results From the Auroral Current and Electrodynamics Structure Rocket Mission
AURORAL PHENOMENOLOGY AND MAGNETOSPHERIC PROCESSES: EARTH AND OTHER PLANETS, Vol.197, pp.183-192
Geophysical Monograph Book Series
01/01/2012
DOI: 10.1029/2011GM001177
Abstract
The Auroral Current and Electrodynamics Structure mission consisted of two sounding rockets launched nearly simultaneously from Poker Flat Research Range, Alaska, on 29 January 2009 into a dynamic multiple-arc aurora. The two well-instrumented payloads were flown along very similar magnetic field footprints, at different altitudes, with small temporal separation to measure electrodynamic and plasma parameters above and within the ionospheric current closure region. The higher-altitude payload (360 km apogee) acquired in situ measurements of electrodynamic and plasma parameters above the current closure region to determine the magnetospheric input signature. The low-altitude payload (130 km apogee) made conjugate observations within the current closure region. Results are presented comparing observations of the electric fields, magnetic fields, and the electron differential energy flux at magnetic foot points common to both payloads. In situ data is compared to ground-based all-sky imager data, which recorded the evolution of the auroral event as the payloads traversed through magnetically conjugate regions. Current measurements derived from the magnetometers on the high-altitude payload observed upward and downward field-aligned currents. The effect of collisions with the neutral atmosphere is investigated to determine if it is a significant mechanism to explain differences in the low-energy electron flux. A calculation of ionospheric conductivity is performed to explain attenuation in electric field observations between the two payloads. The electric fields and magnetic fields of the first auroral crossing are examined in detail and found to have results consistent with the model of an auroral arc.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Current Closure in the Auroral Ionosphere: Results From the Auroral Current and Electrodynamics Structure Rocket Mission
- Creators
- S. R. Kaeppler - Univ Iowa, Dept Phys & Astron, Iowa City, IA 52242 USAC. A. Kletzing - Univ Iowa, Dept Phys & Astron, Iowa City, IA 52242 USAS. R. Bounds - University of IowaJ. W. Gjerloev - University of BergenB. J. Anderson - Johns Hopkins UniversityH. Korth - Johns Hopkins UniversityJ. W. LaBelle - Dartmouth Coll, Dept Phys & Astron, Hanover, NH USAM. P. Dombrowski - Dartmouth Coll, Dept Phys & Astron, Hanover, NH USAM. Lessard - Univ New Hampshire, Ctr Space Sci, Durham, NH USAR. F. Pfaff - NASA, Goddard Space Flight Ctr, Greenbelt, MD USAD. E. Rowland - NASA, Goddard Space Flight Ctr, Greenbelt, MD USAS. Jones - NASA, Goddard Space Flight Ctr, Greenbelt, MD USAC. J. Heinselman - Menlo School
- Contributors
- A Keiling (Editor)E Donovan (Editor)F Bagenal (Editor)T Karlsson (Editor)
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Publication Details
- AURORAL PHENOMENOLOGY AND MAGNETOSPHERIC PROCESSES: EARTH AND OTHER PLANETS, Vol.197, pp.183-192
- Series
- Geophysical Monograph Book Series
- DOI
- 10.1029/2011GM001177
- ISSN
- 0065-8448
- eISSN
- 2328-8779
- Publisher
- Amer Geophysical Union
- Number of pages
- 2
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2012
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984428661602771
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