Variability of dayside high latitude convection associated with a sequence of auroral transients

• Published in: Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics
• Main Authors: Moen, J., Lockwood, Mike, Sandholt, P.E., Løvhaug, U.P., Denig, W.F., van Eyken, A.P., Egeland, A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: 1996
• Subjects: EISCAT; Ny Ålesund; Ny-Ålesund
• Online Access: https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/38795/; https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9169(95)00021-6

10 second resolution ionospheric convection data covering the invariant latitude range from 71° to 76°, obtained by using the EISCAT UHF and VHF radars, are combined with optical data from Ny Ålesund during a sequence of auroral transients in the post-noon sector (∼ 15 MLT). Satellite observations of polar cap convection patterns suggest negative BZ and BY components of the interplanetary magnetic field. Burst-like enhancements of westward (sunward) post-noon convection were accompanied by eastward moving auroral forms at higher latitudes, above the convection reversal boundary. In this case the background convection was weak, whereas the integrated potential drop across the radar field-of-view associated with the westward flow bursts was typically ∼ 20-35 kV. The auroral phenomenon consists of a series of similar events with a mean repetition period of 8 min. A close correlation between the auroral activity and convection enhancements in the cleft ionosphere is demonstrated.