Evaluation of a method to derive ionospheric conductivities using two auroral emissions (428 and 630 nm) measured with a photometer at Tromsø (69.6°N)

Abstract

Abstract This paper mainly aims at evaluating capabilities of derivation of ionospheric conductivities using two principal auroral emissions (427.8 and 630 nm). We have evaluated a photometric method of derivation of ionospheric conductivities based on simultaneous observations of a photometer (field of view = ~1.2°), a digital camera, and the EISCAT UHF radar (field of view = ~0.7°) operated at Tromsø, Norway (69.6°N, 19.2°E), for two nights on October 10 and 11, 2002. We have compared height-integrated Pedersen and Hall conductivities with a post-integration time of 10 s derived from EISCAT UHF radar observations and photometer observations with wavelengths of 427.8 and 630.0 nm. Sky images taken with the digital camera are utilized for distinguishing types of auroras in the views of the EISCAT UHF radar and the photometer. In general, a good agreement of temporal variations of the height-integrated Pedersen and Hall conductivities was found between EISCAT and photometer values. In cases of auroral arcs passing by in the field of view, however, differences in derived values between the two methods were found. Possible causes of the differences are discussed. We conclude that (1) the photometric method using 427.8 and 630 nm can capture temporal variations of the conductivities well, but unavoidable underestimations of the Pedersen (about 30–40%) and the Hall (about 50–60%) conductivities are involved, and (2) care is necessary for using photometric observational data when auroral arcs appear in the field of view. Graphical Abstract .

Keywords

• Auroral emission
• Conductivity
• Polar ionosphere
• Photometer
• EISCAT
• Tromsø