Ground-based observations of diffuse auroral structures in conjunction with Reimei measurements

Abstract

We present results from ground-based auroral observations coordinated with the Japanese satellite, Reimei, that took place during the winters of 2006, 2007 and 2008 at Poker Flat, Alaska. Comparable temporal and spatial resolution for the optical and in situ particle data, allowed for investigation of small scale and/or rapidly time-varying auroral structures. Four satellite passes through diffuse auroral structures were identified. The structures within the aurora, whether stationary or time-varying (pulsating aurora), were most closely correlated with the highest energy precipitating electrons measured by these detectors (8 to 12 keV). This relation is found to be consistent across all four examples, revealing that the electron precipitation responsible for these diffuse auroral structures is primarily that of the ≥8 keV electrons.