[1] We observed an isolated proton arc at the Athabasca station (MLAT: 62°N) in Canada on 5 September 2005, using a ground-based all-sky imager at wavelengths of 557.7 nm, 630.0 nm, and 486.1 nm (Hb). This arc is similar to the detached proton arc recently observed by the IMAGE satellite . The arc appeared at 0500-0640 UT (2100-2240 MLT), coincident with strong Pc 1 geomagnetic pulsations in the frequency range of the electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave. The isolated arc did not change its structure and intensity during the late growth and expansive phases of a small substorm that occurred at 0550 UT. From particle data obtained by the NOAA 17 satellite, we found that the isolated arc was associated with the localized enhancement of ion precipitation fluxes at an energy range of 30-80 keV at L $ 4. Trapped ion flux enhancements (ring current ions) were also observed at two latitudinally separated regions. The localized ion precipitation was located at the outer boundary of the inner ring current ions. The DMSP F13 satellite observed signatures of an ionospheric plasma trough near the conjugate point of the arc in the Southern Hemisphere. The trough is considered to be connected to the plasmapause. These results indicate that the source region of the isolated arc was located near the plasmapause and in the ring current. We conclude that the observed isolated proton arc at subauroral latitudes was caused by the EMIC waves, which were generated near the plasmapause and resonantly scattered the ring current protons into the loss cone.

[1] Based on observations by a high-resolution narrow field-of-view CCD camera, we found small-scale (5-25 km) finger-like structures at the western boundary of auroral patches in images obtained at Gillam (geomagnetic latitude: 65.5°N), Canada, in January 2008. Since shear motion was not observed along the boundary of the patches, we suggest that these structures are formed by macroscopic Rayleigh-Taylor type plasma instability arising in the magnetospheric equatorial plane from the force balancing of the (eastward) magnetic tension force and the (westward) pressure gradient force.

A new digital all-sky imager experiment for optical auroral studies in conjunction with the Scandinavian twin auroral radar experiment Rev. ABSTRACTThe Optical Mesosphere Thermosphere Imagers (OMTIs) currently consist of eight all-sky cooled-CCD imagers and several interferometers and spectrometers. They are making routine observations of aurora and airglow in Japan, Australia, Indonesia, and Canada. Here we show recent results of OMTIs particularly from the two Canadian stations at Resolute Bay (RSB) and Athabasca (ATH). At RSB, we observe polar-cap plasma patches almost always during southward IMF periods. From two-dimensional cross-correlation analyses, we determine velocity vectors of the patches, which indicates the ionospheric convection vector, showing high correlation with the IMF-By and -Bz variations. At ATH, we often observe isolated proton arcs and Stable Auroral Red (SAR) arcs, which are located equatorward of the auroral oval. The appearance of the isolated proton arcs is highly correlated with the Pc 1 geomagnetic pulsations measured simultaneously at ATH, suggesting interactions between the electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves and protons in the vicinity of the plasmapause and the ring current. Similar interactions without waves are also suggested for the SAR arcs, which appear after the substorm expansion phase even without geomagnetic storms. These observations show promising capability to monitor magnetospheric processes from the ground stations, which would contribute to the future satellite projects, such as THEMIS, ERG, and Scope/Xscale.

Aurora occasionally exhibits short‐lived appearance of a bright red border at the bottom of an auroral arc, band, or curtain. This is called a type B red aurora. Based on simultaneous measurements of auroral emissions from N2 1PG (“red” aurora) and O (1S) (“green” aurora) as well as incident electrons by the Reimei satellite, we show the following two individual observations. Energy flux and average energy of incident electrons (1) were not always higher in the red‐dominated aurora than in the green‐dominated aurora, and (2) were not correlated with the intensity of “green” auroras, but with the intensity of “red” auroras. These observational facts suggest that for the reddening of auroras, intense electron precipitation is unnecessary. A rapid movement, or appearance of electron precipitation is sufficient for the reddening because of the difference in lifetimes of N2 1PG and O (1S).