The Aurora and Its Coupling to Magnetospheric Dynamics

Anna DeJong
Magnetosphereic Dynamics and Aurora Imaging

Wed, September 4, 2019 - 4:00 PM
Karl Herzfeld Auditorium of Hannan Hall - Rm 108

When the solar wind is expelled from the sun, it brings with it the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). When the solar wind reaches Earth and when the IMF is oriented correctly, it can interact with Earth’s magnetic field. This interaction allows the plasma from the solar wind to enter Earth’s magnetosphere, creating both the aurora and most of the dynamics within the magnetosphere. Using satellite images of the aurora, we can investigate this process and the feedbacks that arise from the aurora and the upper atmosphere. I will discuss two of the main types of magnetospheric dynamics (substorms and steady magnetospheric convection events [SMCs]) and how we use the auroral images to study them.

Refreshments served at 3:45 PM

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