Abstract
Using high resolution auroral imagery and particle measurements from the Reimei spacecraft we distinguish 'Alfvénic' and 'quasi-static' auroral forms and implement a new multi-scale wavelet analysis technique to examine how the vorticity in these forms varies as a function of scale transverse to the geomagnetic field. We find from this analysis that the complex motions of aurorae can be described by power-laws relating spatial scale to optical vorticity. We demonstrate how these relationships naturally arise from the 'conductance' of geomagnetic field-lines and the physics of Alfvén waves.
Original language | English |
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Article number | L08104 |
Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2010 Apr |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geophysics
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)