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  • Baumgardner_et_al-2013-Space_Weather

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Imaging space weather over Europe

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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  • Jeffrey Baumgardner
  • Joei Wroten
  • Michael Mendillo
  • Carlos Martinis
  • Cesare Barbieri
  • Gabriele Umbriaco
  • Cathryn Mitchell
  • Joe Kinrade
  • Massimo Materassi
  • Luigi Ciraolo
  • Marc Hairston
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>02/2013
<mark>Journal</mark>Space Weather
Issue number2
Volume11
Number of pages10
Pages (from-to)69-78
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date25/02/13
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

[1] We describe the introduction of the first all-sky imaging system for low-light-level optical observations of the disturbed ionosphere over mid-latitude Europe. Using 6300 angstrom auroral emissions that come from the 200-400 km altitude range, we demonstrate that sub-visual optical patterns spanning the European continent can be obtained from a single site in Italy. Pilot observations during the 26-27 September 2011 geomagnetic storm show that the diffuse aurora's low latitude boundary can be used to find where the poleward wall of the ionospheric trough is located. This relates directly to regions of radiowave disruptions caused by the precipitation of energetic particles from the magnetospheric plasma sheet that move to lower latitudes during space weather events. Images of stable auroral red (SAR) arcs can be used to track the magnetospheric ring current and plasmapause location, a second region of radiowave interference. Comparisons with ground-based and satellite observations of the ionosphere during the same storm demonstrate how ASI images reveal the lowest energy components of magnetospheric input to the ionosphere-thermosphere system. Such observations can be used, potentially, for both now-casting of storm effects spanning Europe, and for retrospective validation of existing models of space weather impacts at sub-auroral locations. Citation: Baumgardner, J., et al. (2013), Imaging space weather over Europe, Space Weather, 11, 69-78, doi:10.1002/swe.20027.

Bibliographic note

©2013. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.