A Strong Correlation Between Relativistic Electron Microbursts and Patchy Aurora. Issue 18 (12th September 2021)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- A Strong Correlation Between Relativistic Electron Microbursts and Patchy Aurora. Issue 18 (12th September 2021)
- Main Title:
- A Strong Correlation Between Relativistic Electron Microbursts and Patchy Aurora
- Authors:
- Shumko, M.
Gallardo‐Lacourt, B.
Halford, A. J.
Liang, J.
Blum, L. W.
Donovan, E.
Murphy, K. R.
Spanswick, E. - Abstract:
- Abstract: In this letter, we present the results of a conjunction between the Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) satellite and a Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) all‐sky imager in Gillam, Canada, showing a high correlation between relativistic, > 1 MeV, electron microbursts and a type of pulsating aurora called patchy aurora. The correlation was 0.8, and is not serendipitous. While the relationship between pulsating aurora and 10–100s keV microbursts has been previously predicted, here we show a strong association between keV and MeV electron dynamics, possibly spanning two orders of magnitude. Importantly, this result shows that the dynamics of relativistic radiation belt electrons are at times intimately tied to keV electron precipitation, and cannot be studied in isolation. Plain Language Summary: In this letter, we present a coordinated observation between a low Earth orbiting satellite, orbiting at 400 km altitude above Earth's surface, and an auroral all‐sky imager in Canada. This observation showed a connection of a type of pulsating aurora, called patchy aurora, with extremely energetic and intense bursts of electron radiation called microbursts. This link is surprising because the electron energies responsible for auroral light are 100 times lower than the electrons that were directly observed in space. Our result implies that the mechanism responsible for patchy aurora and microbursts is likelyAbstract: In this letter, we present the results of a conjunction between the Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) satellite and a Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) all‐sky imager in Gillam, Canada, showing a high correlation between relativistic, > 1 MeV, electron microbursts and a type of pulsating aurora called patchy aurora. The correlation was 0.8, and is not serendipitous. While the relationship between pulsating aurora and 10–100s keV microbursts has been previously predicted, here we show a strong association between keV and MeV electron dynamics, possibly spanning two orders of magnitude. Importantly, this result shows that the dynamics of relativistic radiation belt electrons are at times intimately tied to keV electron precipitation, and cannot be studied in isolation. Plain Language Summary: In this letter, we present a coordinated observation between a low Earth orbiting satellite, orbiting at 400 km altitude above Earth's surface, and an auroral all‐sky imager in Canada. This observation showed a connection of a type of pulsating aurora, called patchy aurora, with extremely energetic and intense bursts of electron radiation called microbursts. This link is surprising because the electron energies responsible for auroral light are 100 times lower than the electrons that were directly observed in space. Our result implies that the mechanism responsible for patchy aurora and microbursts is likely the same, and could be capable of affecting electrons with vastly different energies. This result is a major step toward unifying the microburst and patchy aurora phenomena and shows that the dynamics of high‐energy electrons located in near‐Earth space can be intimately tied to much lower energy electron precipitation, and must therefore be studied together. Key Points: We identified a conjunction between the low Earth orbiting Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) satellite and a Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) all‐sky imager at Gillam, Canada We found a high correlation between patchy aurora and >1 MeV electron microburst precipitation observed during the conjunction This correlation suggests a close connection between relativistic electron microbursts and patchy aurora … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Geophysical research letters. Volume 48:Issue 18(2021)
- Journal:
- Geophysical research letters
- Issue:
- Volume 48:Issue 18(2021)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 48, Issue 18 (2021)
- Year:
- 2021
- Volume:
- 48
- Issue:
- 18
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2021-0048-0018-0000
- Page Start:
- n/a
- Page End:
- n/a
- Publication Date:
- 2021-09-12
- Subjects:
- conjunction -- microbursts -- pulsating aurora -- SAMPEX -- THEMIS
Geophysics -- Periodicals
Planets -- Periodicals
Lunar geology -- Periodicals
550 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/ ↗
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1029/2021GL094696 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0094-8276
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 4156.900000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 24644.xml