Measuring the Thickness of Auroral Curtains

Authors

  • David M. Suszcynsky
  • Joseph E. Borovsky
  • Melvin I. Buchwald
  • Harold V. DeHaven

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic1543

Keywords:

Auroras, Geomagnetism, Ionosphere, Photography, Alaska, Alberta, Northern, Arctic regions, Labrador, Manitoba, N.W.T., Nouveau-Québec, Nunavut, Saskatchewan

Abstract

Auroral arcs (curtains) are extremely thin. A calculation of the minimum-possible arc thickness is presented; this minimum thickness is found to be about 9.5 m. Four requirements for designing an optical system that can image the thinnest curtains are discussed: (1) angular resolution, (2) temporal resolution, (3) light-gathering power, and (4) data-recording convenience. An optical system meeting these four requirements was constructed. With this system, an observing campaign in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, has begun and images of the small-scale structure of auroral arcs are presented. Arc thicknesses of approximately 40 m were observed. These measurements of arc thicknesses may provide a critical test for the many theories about the origins of auroral arcs.

Key words: aurora, geomagnetism, ionosphere, Northwest Territories, photography, polar

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Published

1991-01-01