Near-UV Pulsations in the Aurora Region Measured by Orbital Telescope TUS during High-Intensity and Long-Duration Continuous AE Activity

Abstract

Tracking Ultraviolet Set-up (TUS) on board the Lomonosov satellite measured the UV intensity pulsations in the auroral region. Sixty-four events with pulsations were registered during two measurement periods from 26 December 2016–10 January 2017 and 8–15 November 2017. During both periods, a high-intensity, long-duration, continuous auroral activity (HILDCAA) was detected. Simultaneous measurements in LEO by Lomonosov (DEPRON detector) and Meteor-M2 satellites show the enhanced fluxes of the trapped and precipitated energetic electrons in the region of the Earth’s outer radiation belt during these periods. We found that most of the UV-events correspond to energetic electron (E > 100 keV) precipitation. One can suggest that particles of these and higher energies cause a pulsating emission relatively deep in the atmosphere.

Keywords

• pulsating aurora
• multi-satellite measurements
• energetic electrons