Auroras unlock the physics of energetic processes in space

A close study of auroras has revealed new ways of understanding the physics of explosive energy releases in space, according to new UCL-led research.

Auroras are a tell-tale sign of physical processes in space, acting like TV screens by showing what happens millions of kilometers away from Earth where our planet's magnetic field stretches into a long tail facing away from the Sun.

For the study, published today in Nature CommunicationsThe team from UCL and the University of Reading remotely observed rapidly evolving aurora to understand the physics behind why, when and how energy is released as the source of the aurora explosively reconfigures.

"Somewhere in the huge volume of earthquakes, this energy release occurs through the earth's atmosphere and electromagnetic waves. the aurora "explained study author Dr. Jonathan Rae (UCL Space & Climate Physics).

"By studying auroras closely, we can find that it is much more efficient than we need to study."

The team scanned a large portion of the sky and found the perfect substorm located over Poker Flats in Alaska on September 18, 2012. By using new data from the MOOSE (Multi-spectral Observatory of Sensitive EM-CCDs) camera, they tracked the aurora as it moved to the northern pole over a four minute period.

This is a relatively long time for this type of study, allowing scientists to collect a wealth of data. The information was then analyzed for specific patterns that gave important physical training to the aurora's training in space and time.

The aurora began as a line of 'auroral beads' along an arc which grew exponentially in brightness and size. These growing ripples are a hallmark of an instability in space.

By comparing these features of the aurora with the state of the art theory, the team could be more likely to be.

"We've shown that it's possible to only study", which has not been done before, "explained Dr. Colin Forsyth's co-author (UCL Space & Climate Physics).

"Our method allows us to predict which is the most important place in the world." In fact, the region is more likely to be small in size than in the United States. it in more detail using spacecraft that pass through the area. "

Until now, scientists have been able to describe how they have been able to do so, and have been able to do so in the past.

"Importantly," added co-author Dr. Clare Watt (University of Reading).

"What we've done in the past, how do we do it?" We're looking forward to pinpointing this epicenter in space and finding out what makes it unstable, "concluded Dr. Rae.

Explore further:
Image: Aurora observed from orbit

More information:
N. M. E. Kalmoni et al, A diagnosis of plasma waves responsible for the explosive energy release of substorm onset, Nature Communications (2018). DOI: 10.1038 / s41467-018-07086-0