The lights shineth in darkness
Article Abstract:
A statistical study of satellite data on electron-acceleration events reveals the absence of auroral arcs in sunlight. Their occurrence is three times more in darkness due to ionospheric conductivity differences. Auroral conductivity determines arc formation and a highly conductive ionosphere resists the formation of arcs. Sunlight produces higher conductivity than darkness, giving rise to differences in the auroral occurrence. A similar asymmetry in arc formation before/after midnight is due to the high ionospheric conductivity in the presence of hot electrons from midnight magnetosphere.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1996
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Merging at the magnetopause
Article Abstract:
The pulsating-cusp model of the magnetopause has gained support from the observations of M. Lockwood and colleagues. The magnetopause is the region where the solar wind forms a boundary with earth's magnetosphere. Competing models of the magnetopause show it either occurring continuously or varying, such as in a pulsating cusp. Lockwood's data comes from a simple spectrum of ion emissions, yet other phenomena remain to be explained by either model.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1993
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Electron acceleration from contracting magnetic islands during reconnection
Article Abstract:
Electrons gain kinetic energy by reflecting from the ends of the contracting 'magnetic islands' that form as reconnection proceeds. It shows that the resultant energy spectra of electrons take the form of power laws with spectral indices that match the magnetospheric observations.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 2006
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