Rights statement: Copyright 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.
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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Variation of Saturn's UV aurora with SKR phase
AU - Nichols, J. D.
AU - Cecconi, B.
AU - Clarke, J. T.
AU - Cowley, S. W. H.
AU - Gérard, J.-c.
AU - Grocott, A.
AU - Grodent, D.
AU - Lamy, L.
AU - Zarka, P.
N1 - Copyright 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.
PY - 2010/8/6
Y1 - 2010/8/6
N2 - It is well known that a wide range of kronian magnetospheric phenomena, including the Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR), exhibit oscillations near the planetary rotation period. However, although the SKR is believed to be generated by unstable auroral electrons, no connection has been established to date between diurnal SKR modulations and UV auroral power. We use an empirical SKR phase determined from Cassini observations to order the ‘quiet time’ total emitted UV auroral power as observed by the Hubble Space Telescope in programs during the interval 2005–2009. Our results indicate that both the northern and southern UV powers are dependent on SKR phase, varying diurnally by factors of ∼3. We also show that the UV variation originates principally from the morning half of the oval, consistent with previous observations of the SKR sources.
AB - It is well known that a wide range of kronian magnetospheric phenomena, including the Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR), exhibit oscillations near the planetary rotation period. However, although the SKR is believed to be generated by unstable auroral electrons, no connection has been established to date between diurnal SKR modulations and UV auroral power. We use an empirical SKR phase determined from Cassini observations to order the ‘quiet time’ total emitted UV auroral power as observed by the Hubble Space Telescope in programs during the interval 2005–2009. Our results indicate that both the northern and southern UV powers are dependent on SKR phase, varying diurnally by factors of ∼3. We also show that the UV variation originates principally from the morning half of the oval, consistent with previous observations of the SKR sources.
KW - Saturn
KW - aurora
KW - radio
KW - rotation
KW - magnetosphere
U2 - 10.1029/2010GL044057
DO - 10.1029/2010GL044057
M3 - Journal article
VL - 37
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
JF - Geophysical Research Letters
SN - 0094-8276
IS - 15
M1 - L15102
ER -