Coordinated Obserations of Proton Aurorae from Ground and Space

T.J. Immel, S.B. Mende, R.L. Rairden, H.U. Frey


Nighttime observations of the spectral characteristics of proton auroral
emissions have been made using ground based equipment from time to time
for many decades. This report documents the first time that ground based
observations are accompanied by space-based global imaging of the proton
aurora, here obtained by the Spectrographic Imager aboard NASA's IMAGE
satellite.

The ground-observations were made from Poker Flat, Alaska, in January,
2001. The instrumentation consisted of a Fabry-Perot interferometer,
constructing such that monochromatic light around 486.1 nm (H-beta) 
produces 3 distinct fringes on the CCD. The incoming light passes
through a filter with a 3-nm passband function centered near 486.1 nm. 
The multi-channel imaging from IMAGE-FUV locates the ground imager in 
the context of the proton and electron auroral ovals, and subsequent
development of substorm onset and expansion/recovery phase. The
ground-based element of this experiment provides a quantifiable
improvement, as an independent means for determination of precipitating
proton energy.

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To be presented at the 2002 Spring A.G.U. Meeting, 
Washington, D.C., U.S.A., 28-31 May 2002