An analysis of magnetic reconnection events and their associated auroral enhancements. Issue 3 (3rd March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Case, N. A.; Grocott, A.; Milan, S. E.; Nagai, T.; Reistad, J. P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 122:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 2922
• Page End: 2935
• Publication Date: 2017-03-03
• Subjects: reconnection -- magnetotail -- aurora -- enhancement; Magnetospheric physics -- Periodicals; Space environment -- Periodicals; Cosmic physics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Atmospheres -- Periodicals; Heliosphere (Astrophysics) -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 523.01
• DOI: 10.1002/2016JA023586
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9380

Abstract

Abstract: An analysis of simultaneous reconnection events in the near‐Earth magnetotail and enhancements in the aurora is undertaken. Exploiting magnetospheric data from the Geotail, Cluster, and Double Star missions, along with auroral images from the IMAGE and Polar missions, the relationship between a reconnection signature and its auroral counterpart is explored. In this study of 59 suitable reconnection events, we find that 43 demonstrate a clear coincidence of reconnection and auroral enhancement. The magnetic local time (MLT) locations of these 43 reconnection events are generally located within ±1 h MLT of the associated auroral enhancement. A positive correlation coefficient of 0.8 between the two MLT locations is found. The enhancements are localized and short‐lived ( τ ≤10 min) and are as likely to occur during the substorm process as in isolation of a substorm. No significant dependence of the reconnection or auroral enhancement location on the dusk‐dawn components of the solar wind velocity ( V y ), IMF ( B y ) or local B y or V y, as measured by the reconnection‐detecting spacecraft, is found. Key Points: A strong correlation exists between the location of magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail and auroral enhancements Short‐lived localized auroral enhancements are as likely to occur during the substorm process as in isolation of a substorm No significant dependence of enhancement location on local or upstream conditions is found