Simultaneous observations of the aurora and of non-uniform thermospheric winds, from Poker Flat, Alaska

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A new all-sky imaging, wavelength scanning Fabry-Perot spectrometer (FPS) has been developed to spatially resolve horizontal vector wind fields in the thermosphere approximately 240km above Poker Flat, Alaska. Collocated with this instrument are a narrow field Fabry-Perot spectrometer, a 30 frame/s white light all-sky video camera (ASC) and a 4-channel meridian scanning photometer (MSP). The narrow field FPS is normally used for vertical wind measurements, whereas the latter two instruments are used to monitor auroral activity. We present an example of data from this set of instruments from one night, November 15,1996. In particular, we focus on a three hour period, ending just after magnetic midnight, during which time an auroral breakup was observed. Strong curvature and shear of the horizontal wind field developed prior to the breakup, apparently associated with stable aurora lying north of Poker Flat. The curved and sheared flow configuration collapsed within 45min of the breakup, leaving the thermospheric wind almost stagnant. Following this, the observatory moved under the thermospheric cross-polar jet, so that uniform southeastward wind gradually covered our visible sky. The vertical wind speed remained within a few tens of ms^1 of zero throughout this period, apart from an isolated value of 82ms^1 downward, recorded about 50min prior to the breakup. Mechanisms for possible associations between thermospheric vertical winds, horizontal winds, and the aurora are discussed.
国立極地研究所の論文

Simultaneous observations of the aurora and of non-uniform thermospheric winds, from Poker Flat, Alaska

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