Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Handbook of the Solar-Terrestrial Environment pp 333–354Cite as

The Aurora

  • Chapter

Abstract

The aurora has been studied for many hundred years but the detailed physical mechanisms giving rise to its various characteristics are to a large extent still poorly known. The physics of the aurora is basically plasma physics but many branches of physics are involved, such as interaction of energetic particles with matter and electrodynamics. Great progress in the physical understanding has been achieved in the last couple of decades by means of specially designed satellites placed in suitable orbits and provided with high data rates. This chapter gives a brief review of what is known about the auroral phenomena. In general, references are given only to the early papers for each specific subject and no completeness has been possible with the limited space available. A rough idea of what the chapter deals with can be obtained from the table of content.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Akasofu, S.-I.: 1964, ‘The development of the auroral substorm’. Planet. Space Sci. 12, 273

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Akasofu, S.-I.: 1968, Polar and Magnetospheric Substorms. Dordrecht: D. Reidel

    Google Scholar 

  • Belmont, G., D. Fontaine and P. Cann: 1983, ‘Are equatorial electron cyclotron waves responsible for diffuse auroral precipitation?’ J. Geophys. Res. 88, 9163

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Broadfoot, A.L. et al.: 1989, ‘Ultraviolet spectrometer observations of Neptune and Triton’. Science 246, 1459

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, J.T.: 2000, ‘Satellite footprints seen in Jupiter aurora’, Space Telescope Science Institute, Press Release STScI-PRC00-38, Baltimore, MD

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, T,N., and G.T. Hicks: 1964, ‘Television cinematography of auroras and preliminary measurements of auroral velocities’. J. Geophys. Res. 69, 1931

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Feldstein, Ya.I.: 1960, ‘Geographical distribution of the auroras and azimuths of the arcs’. Investigations of the Aurorae No 4, 61 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldstein, Ya.I., and E.K. Solomatina. 1961, in Geomagn. and Aeron, (US translation), 1, 475

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldstein, Y.I. and G.V. Starkov: 1967, ‘Dynamics of auroral belt and polar geomagnetic disturbances’. Planet. Space Sci. 18, 501

    Google Scholar 

  • Fritz, H.: 1881, Das Polarlicht. Brockhaus, Leipzig

    Google Scholar 

  • Geiss, J., H. Balsiger, P. Eberhardt, H.P. Walker, L. Weber, and D.T. Young: 1978, ‘Dynamics of magnetospheric ion composition as observed by the the GEOS mass spectro-meter’, Space Sci. Rev. 22, 537

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Haerendel, G: 2001, ‘Auroral acceleration in astrophysical plasmas’. Physics of Plasmas 8, 2365

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Harang, L: 1951, The Aurorae, London: Chapman & Hall, Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hultqvist, B.: 1959, ‘Auroral isochasms’. Nature 183, 1478

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hultqvist, B: 1974, ‘Rocket and satellite observations of energetic particle precipitation in relation to optical aurora’. Annales de Geophys. 30, 223

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hultqvist, B., W. Riedler, and H. Borg: 1976, ‘Ring current protons in the upper atmosphere within the plasmasphere’. Planet. Space Sci. 24, 783

    Google Scholar 

  • Hultqvist, B. and R. Lundin: 1987, ‘Some Viking results related to dayside magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions’, Annales Geophys. 5A, 503

    Google Scholar 

  • Hultqvist, B., M. Øieroset, G. Paschmann, and R. Treumann (eds.): Magnetospheric Plasma Souces and Losses, Vol. 6 of Space Science Series of ISSI. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennel, C., F. Scarf, R. Fredricks, J. McGehee, and F. Coroniti: 1970, ‘VLF electric field observations in the magnetosphere’. J. Geophys. Res. 75, 6136

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lassen, K., and C. Danielsson: 1989, ‘Distribution of auroral arcs during quiet geomagnetic conditions’. J. Geophys. Res. 94, 2587.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, G., M. Brittnacher, G. Parks, and D. Lummerzheim: 2000, J. Geophys. Res. 105, 18483

    Google Scholar 

  • Lui, T.Y., D. Venkatesan, G. Rostoker, J.S. Murphree, C.D. Anger, L.L. Cogger and T.A. Potemra: 1987, ‘Dayside auroral intensifications during an auroral substorm’. Geophys. Res. Lett. 14, 415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundin, R., G. Haerendel, and S. Grahn: 1994, ‘The Freja Science mission’. Space Science Rev. 70, 405

    Google Scholar 

  • Marklund,G., I. Sandahl and H. Opgenoorth: 1982, ‘A study of the dynamics of a discrete auroral arc’. Planet. Space Sci. 30, 179

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Marklund, G., W. Baumjohann and I. Sandahl; 1983, ‘Rocket and ground-based study of an auroral breakup event’. Planet. Space Sci. 31, 207

    Google Scholar 

  • Marklund, G.: 1984, ‘Auroral arc classification scheme based on the observed arc-associated electric field pattern’. Planet. Space Sci. 32, 193

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Marklund, G. et al.: 1998, ‘Observations of the electric fields and their relationship to black aurora’. J. Geophys. Res. 103, 4125

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Mauk, B.H., B.J. Anderson, and R.M. Thorne: 2004, ‘Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling at Earth, Jupiter and beyond’. In Atmospheres in the Solar System: Comparative Aeronomy, Geophysical Monograph 130, AGU

    Google Scholar 

  • Newell, P.T., and C.-I. Meng: 1992, ‘Mapping the dayside ionosphere to the magnetosphere according to particle precipitation characteristics’, Geophys. Res. Lett. 19, 609

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Newell, P., C.-I. Meng, and K. Lyons: 1996: ‘Suppression of discrete aurora by sunlight’. Nature 381, 766

    Google Scholar 

  • Omholt, A.: 1971, The Optical Aurora. Heidelberg: Springer Verlag

    Google Scholar 

  • Opgenoorth, H., R. Pellinen, W. Baumjohann, E. Nielsen, G. Marklund, and L. Eliasson: 1983: ‘Three dimensional current flow and particle precipitation in a westward travelling surge (observed during the Barium-Geos rocket experiment)’, J. Geophys. Res. 88, 3183

    Google Scholar 

  • Paschmann, G., S. Haaland, and R. Treumann (eds.): 2003, Auroral Plasma Physics, Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, Vol. 15 of Space Science Series of ISSI

    Google Scholar 

  • Royrvik, O., and T. Davis: 1977, ‘Pulsating aurora: Local and global morphology’. J. Geophys. Res. 82, 4720

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sandholt, P.E., B. Jacobsen, B. Lybeck, A., Egeland, P.F. Bythrow, and D.A. Hardy: 1989, ‘Electrodynamics of the polar cusp ionosphere: A case study’. J. Geophys. Res. 94, 6713

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sandhiolt, E.E., J. Moen, A. Rudland, D. Opsvik, W.F. Denig, and T. Hansen: 1993, ‘Auroral event sequences at the dayside polar cap boundary for positive and negative interplanetary magnetic field By’, J. Geophys. Res. 98, 7737

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sandholt, P.E., C.J. Farrugia, M. Øieroset, P. Stauning, and S.W.H. Cowley: 1998, ‘The dayside aurora and its regulation by the interplanetary magnetic field, in Moen, J., A. Egeland and M. Lockwood (eds.): Polar Cap Boundary Phenomena, NATO ASI Series, 189

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelley, E.G., R.G. Johnson, and R.D. Sharp: 1972, ‘Satellite observations of energetic heavy ions during a geomagnetic storm’. J. Geophys. Res. 77, 6104

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Shelley, E.G., R.D. Sharp, and R.G. Johnson: 1976, Satellite observations of an ionospheric acceleration mechanism’. Geophys. Res. Lett. 3, 654

    Google Scholar 

  • Shiokawa, K. et al.: 1996, ‘Quasi-periodic poleward motions of sun-aligned auroral arcs in the high-latitude morning sector: A case study’. J. Geophys. Res. 101, 19789

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, N., K.S. Hwang, D.G. Torr, and P. Riehands: 1989, ‘Temporal features of the outflow of heavy ionospheric ions in response to a high-altitude plasma cavity’. Geophys. Res. Lett. 16, 29

    Google Scholar 

  • Stenbeck-Nielsen, H., T. Hallinan, D. Osborne, J. Kimball, C. Chaston, J. McFadden, G. Delory, M. Temerin, and C. Carlson: 1998, ‘Aircraft observations conjugate to FAST’. Geophys.Res. Lett. 25, 2073

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Tromholt, S.: 1902, ‘Katalog der in Norwegian bis June 1878 beobachteten Nordlichter’, Kristiania (Oslo)

    Google Scholar 

  • Trondsen, T. and L. Cogger: 1997, ‘High-resolution television observations of black aurora’. J. Geophys. Res. 102, 363

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Vallance Jones, A: 1974, Aurora. Dordrecht: D. Reidel Publishing Company

    Google Scholar 

  • Yau, A.W., W.K. Peterson, and E.G. Shelley: 1988, ‘Quantitative parametrization of energetic Ionospheric ion outflow’, in T.E. Moore and J.H. Waite Jr. (eds.): Modeling Magnetospheric Plasma, Geophys. Monograph 44, 211, AGU

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, 611-0011, Uji, Japan

    Y. Kamide

  2. National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and World Institute for Space Environment Research (WISER), 515, 12227-010, São José dos Campos-SP, Brazil

    A. Chian

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

(2007). The Aurora. In: Kamide, Y., Chian, A. (eds) Handbook of the Solar-Terrestrial Environment. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-46315-3_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation