HR: 0830h
AN: SM11C-1169    [PDF]
TI: Transpolar Aurora: Time Evolution, Associated Convection Patterns, and a Possible Cause
AU: * Blomberg, L
EM: Lars.Blomberg@alfvenlab.kth.se
AF: Alfv\'en Laboratory, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-10044 Sweden
AU: Cumnock, J
EM: cumnock@utdallas.edu
AF: Alfv\'en Laboratory, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-10044 Sweden
AU: Cumnock, J
EM: cumnock@utdallas.edu
AF: University of Texas at Dallas, Center for Space Sciences, PO box 830688 MS/FO 22, Richardson, TX 75083-0688 United States
AU: Alexeev, I
EM: alexeev@dec1.sinp.msu.ru
AF: Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorob'evy Gory, Moscow, 119992 Russian Federation
AU: Belenkaya, E
EM: elena@dec1.sinp.msu.ru
AF: Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorob'evy Gory, Moscow, 119992 Russian Federation
AU: Bobrovnikov, S
EM: sergo@dec1.sinp.msu.ru
AF: Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorob'evy Gory, Moscow, 119992 Russian Federation
AU: Kalegaev, V
EM: klg@dec1.sinp.msu.ru
AF: Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Vorob'evy Gory, Moscow, 119992 Russian Federation
AB: We present event studies illustrating the detailed relationships between plasma convection, field-aligned current, polar auroral emissions, and particle precipitation boundaries, as well as illustrating the influence of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field's y-component on theta aurora development. The transpolar arc of the thetas move across the entire polar region and become part of the opposite side of the auroral oval. Electric and magnetic field and precipitating particle data are provided by DMSP, while the Polar UVI instrument provides measurements of auroral emissions. Ionospheric electrostatic potential patterns are calculated at different times during the evolution of the theta aurora using the Royal Institute of Technology model. These model patterns are compared to the convection predicted by mapping the magnetopause electric field to the ionosphere using the Moscow State University's Paraboloid Model of the magnetosphere. A possible cause of the theta aurora in terms of the large-scale convection drivers is discussed.
DE: 2407 Auroral ionosphere (2704)
DE: 2409 Current systems (2708)
DE: 2463 Plasma convection
DE: 2475 Polar cap ionosphere
DE: 2736 Magnetosphere/ionosphere interactions
SC: SPA - Magnetospheric Physics [SM]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting