Auroral displays near the 'foot' of the field line of the ATS-5 satellite

• Main Authors: Akasofu, S.-I., Deforest, S., Mcilwain, C.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1974
• Subjects: 13; Great Whale River
• Online Access: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740036203

Summary of an extensive correlative study of ATS-5 particle and magnetic field data with all-sky photographs from Great Whale River which is near the 'foot' of the field lines passing through the ATS-5 satellite. In particular, an effort is made to identify specific particle features with specific auroral displays during substorms, such as a westward traveling surge, poleward expansive motion, and drifting patches. It is found that, in early evening hours, the first encounter of ATS-5 with hot plasma is associated with the equatorward shift of the diffuse aurora, but not necessarily with westward traveling surges (even when the satellite is embedded in the plasma sheet). In the midnight sector, an injection corresponds very well to the initial brightening of an auroral arc. Specific features of morning sector auroras are difficult to correlate with specific particle features.